260920 AOC Sunday Report

 

Anglican Orthodox Church _sm

 

Worldwide Communion

Sixteenth Sunday after Trinity
September 20, 2026

Sunday Report

Sixteenth Sunday after Trinty

The propers are special prayers and readings from the Bible. There is a Collect for the Day; that is a single thought prayer, most written either before the re-founding of the Church of England in the 1540’s or written by Bishop Thomas Cranmer, the first Archbishop of Canterbury after the re-founding.

 

The Collect for the Day is to be read on Sunday and during Morning and Evening Prayer until the next Sunday. The Epistle is normally a reading from one of the various Epistles, or letters, in the New Testament. The Gospel is a reading from one of the Holy Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. The Collect is said by the minister as a prayer, the Epistle can be read by either a designated reader (as we do in our church) or by one of the ministers and the Holy Gospel, which during the service in our church is read by an ordained minister.

 

The propers are the same each year, except if a Red-Letter Feast, that is one with propers in the prayerbook, falls on a Sunday, then those propers are to be read instead, except in a White Season, where it is put off. Red Letter Feasts, so called because in the Altar Prayerbooks the titles are in red, are special days. Most of the Red-Letter Feasts are dedicated to early saint’s instrumental in the development of the church, others to special events. Some days are particularly special and the Collect for that day is to be used for an octave (eight days) or an entire season, like Advent or Lent. The Propers for today are found in the Book of Common Prayer page 210-211.

 The Collect for the Sixteenth Sunday after Trinity.

O LORD, we beseech thee, let thy continual pity cleanse and defend thy Church; and, because it cannot continue in safety without thy succour, preserve it evermore by thy help and goodness; through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen

 Epistle for Sixteenth Sunday after  Trinity.   Ephesians iii. 13.

I DESIRE that ye faint not at my tribulations for you, which is your glory. For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; and to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.

 The Gospel for Sixteenth Sunday after Trinity. St. Luke. vii. 11.

AND it came to pass the day after, that Jesus went into a city called Nain; and many of his disciples went with him, and much people. Now when he came nigh to the gate of the city, behold, there was a dead man carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow: and much people of the city was with her. And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep not. And he came and touched the bier: and they that bare him stood still. And he said, Young man, I say unto thee, Arise. And he that was dead sat up, and began to speak. And he delivered him to his mother. And there came a fear on all: and they glorified God, saying, That a great prophet is risen up among us; and, That God hath visited his people. And this rumour of him went forth throughout all Judæa, and throughout all the region round about.

 On Point:  From The Family Altar by F.W. Herzberger

September 17.

"Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended; but this

one thing- I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and

reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward

the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus."

Phil. 3:13-14

The Apostle Paul has grown old and gray in the service of is Master. For his dear Savior's sake he has brought the greatest sacrifices, forsaking home and friends and worldly advancement, suffering stripes and persecution instead. He is now even in bonds for the Gospels sake and writes this letter to the Philippians from his prison in Rome. Verily, if there ever was a Christian who could think: "I can take things easy now in my Christian calling; I can rest on my laurels, for I have labored and suffered more for my Lord than any other of His followers," — that man was Paul. But what do we hear him say? That the time for resting has not yet come for him. He is still like a runner who never pauses in his race, never looks back with self-satisfaction at the great distance he has covered, never stops to pick some beautiful flower growing near the wayside, but unfalteringly keeps his eyes fixed on the

goal before him and strives with might and main to gain the precious prize. What an inspiring example the dear apostle here has left to all of us ! Alas, under the cares and pleasures of life we are so prone to forget the prize — the crown of immortal life. There are times when we think we can take it easy in our Christian calling, that we need not battle so earnestly against sin and the world and our flesh, nor watch and pray so much, because we are such good and virtuous Christians. But to pause and to rest in our Christian race means to go backward, it may mean to fall away from Christ altogether. God help us to follow the example of the apostle and never to rest in our race until by His grace we reach the mark, and attain the crown of life in our everlasting home.

 

                                  Jerry Ogles, Presiding Bishop
Metropolitan AOC Worldwide

 We are fortunate to get copies of Bishop Jerry’s you tube links, devotions on the Prayer of the Collect and sermon notes.

 

Bishop Jerry creates videos on various subjects, they last just under ten minutes and this week’s videos are listed below:

Bishop Ogles Blog:
 https://anglicanorthodoxchurch.blogspot.com  

 

Bishop Ogles You Tube Channel
that is free to subscribe: all of his videos at:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuW3bgXBJFomPB5mZ4Oigxg

 

 Bishop Ogles Sunday Sermon: Resurrection at Nain

 Bishop Ogles Blog: https://anglicanorthodoxchurch.blogspot.com/2026/09/youtube-video-player_01925577606.html

 You Tube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mCPqbriQcag

 Sermon for the 16^th Sunday in Trinity:

The Collect. 

O LORD, we beseech thee, let thy continual pity cleanse and defend thy Church; and, because it cannot continue in safety without thy succour, preserve it evermore by thy help and goodness; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Have we lately abandoned the fountain of Living Waters which is the Word of God Incarnate?  The great prophet, Jeremiah, has warned, in no uncertain terms - “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.” That is more than a mild rebuke, it is a reminder that our eternal salvation rests upon our faith and obedience to God.

We can no longer hide, as a people, under the excuse of what ‘they’ have said or done to undermine the moral law of God - the responsibility of a nations apostacy lies squarely on her citizenry. Regardless of what ‘they’ have said or done, what have YOU done to resist the emerging evil that grows daily in our public streets and political discourse?

Our Collect dutifully points out our responsibility as a people to adhere to the words and garments of Christ :

“What hath my beloved to do in mine house, seeing she hath wrought lewdness with many, and the holy flesh is passed from thee? when thou doest evil, then thou rejoicest. ¹⁶The LORD called thy name, A green olive tree, fair, and of goodly fruit: with the noise of a great tumult he hath kindled fire upon it, and the branches of it are broken. ¹⁷For the LORD of hosts, that planted thee, hath pronounced evil against thee.” (Jeremiah 11:14-17: all scripture quoted is from the King James Version)            

Whether I apply the words of Jeremiah to my church, or to my nation, I cannot pray for their success in wickedness while affronting the very God who blesses them. We live in a nation whose foundation, like the church, rested upon God and His Word. Long before we saw our freedoms in America begin to dwindle and vanish, we saw our blessed Church fade and dwindle – overcome by the desires to be accepted by the world and a cowardly reluctance to stand upon those truths that made her great. Can I pray for her success in that regard? Can I pray for the success of the leaders of our nation who embrace the filthy practice of homosexual marriage and the murder of innocents before they ever see the beauty of God’s Creation bathed in sunlight? We are now harvesting the bitter fruits of rejecting God as a nation and as a Church. Murder, abortion, vile sexual sins, drug abuse, and alcoholism have grown up in our fields of infidelity. Our children stagger in lost paths, while we revel in our faith in government to the detriment of our faith in God.

The Collect for the 16^th Sunday after Trinity makes a proper and appropriate appeal to the only prayer we can truly utter for an apostate church, society, and government. Our weak faith of today did not result from an over-reliance upon government, but our overly reliance on government resulted from our weak faith. The former bastion of freedom and liberty – the early Church in America -  failed to stand up when divorce began to grow prolific when the 1^st Amendment right of children to pray at any place (especially in school) was abrogated by a renegade judiciary, when the Holy Bible was deemed too harmful for the exposure to children in public schools when abortion (more egregious even than the slaughter of millions in Nazi death camps) became legal and even encouraged, and when high government officials began to advocate for the right men to marry men, and women to marry women. How far into the abyss can we sink ere we burst Hell wide open? So, can I pray the Prayer Book Prayer for the President (we recently had such a one) who has callously embraced the sinful and opposed the righteous? Yes, for every word of the prayer is honoring of God and calls any man in the office of President to be made aware of his right path and to turn from any wickedness:

O LORD our Governor, whose glory is in all the world; We commend this nation to thy merciful care, that being guided by thy Providence, we may dwell secure in thy peace. Grant to THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, and to all in Authority, wisdom and strength to know and to do thy will. Fill them with the love of truth and righteousness; and make them ever mindful of their calling to serve this people in thy fear; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, one God, world without end. Amen This prayer calls for righteousness in the President, and should we (as Jonah) be disappointed if he repents from the course he has embarked upon to evil?

Of course, before any President may lead us in righteousness, the heart and soul of America must be open to Christ and willing to follow on a righteous course. Whose duty is it to remind us our responsibilities and debt to God? Is it not the Church – His beloved Bride - who has committed spiritual adultery? O LORD, we beseech thee, let thy continual pity cleanse and defend thy Church Before God will grant pity, we must ask it of Him. We must ask in the same vein as 2 Chronicles 7:14 -  If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. Does God seek to hear the prayers of ALL people in a wicked land? No, not at all, but He DOES seek to hear the prayers of those who are “called by my Name” to humble themselves (have we?), and pray (have we?), and seek my face (have we?), and “turn from their wicked ways (have we?). Only after this formula shall God heal America. At present, we are NOT a righteous nation. At present, we are not humble. At present, we are not a pure church in prayer. At present, we still pursue a wicked path. But God WILL have pity and grant it for our asking.

Do you believe the America we have known can be safe without the special benevolence and succor of God? “….because it cannot continue in safety without thy succor.” It cannot be so preserved without its founding principles established in God for His Church.

Paul, in his Epistle reminds us of our need to be strengthened, not by designer apparel or outward appearances, but by the strength of the inward man whose strength and stamina comes from the indwelling of the Holy Ghost. The root of that Holy Spirit is grounded in the love of god and our fellows. That love is a grant of God, the fountain and source of all love, whose waters are broader than the sea and boundless ss the distant galaxies of deep space. That bounteous source of love exceeds every dimension of measurement in height, width, and depth. If we are filled with the fulness of God, as Paul counsels, we shall overcome every weakness of spirit and soul “according to the power that worketh in us.”

In our Gospel text today, taken from the Gospel of St; Luke, we find a living revelation of Christ as the Giver and sustainer of Life itself. Adam was introduced to the source of death and pain before that ugly Tree in Eden from which the Serpent profaned the Word of God and proclaimed the first lie that led to the death of every living creature; but, God, in His mercy and Grace, had already provided a means of salvation by which we might return to God and partake of the Tree of Life which Adam shunned at Eden.

None of the works of Christ are coincidental. When He “must needs go through Samaria” (John 4:4) it was not an uninformed meeting to which He went, but one determined for a Samaritan woman at the Well of Jacob from before the foundation of the world. and, so, we find in today’s text, another such meeting outside the city gate of Nain. Nain was a village near Mt. Tabor whose meaning is ‘Beautiful.’ And its beauty was enhanced by a wonderful miracle of life performed by our Lord Jesus Christ. The miracle was of great benefit to the faith of the citizens of that small hamlet, but of even greater significance to all who know and believe.

The scene of this miracle is one of deep sorrow and foreboding. The funeral procession of a dead man is met by Christ outside the gate of Nain. It is made more pitiful by Luke’s description of the circumstances pertaining to this event. The dead man was a young and only son of a widow woman. she had no husband to protect her, and now, her only son was gone and she would be left struggle even for her next meal.

When Jesus met this procession, He had great compassion on the widow woman. Perhaps this compassion was enlarged by our Lord’s love for his own mother, Mary, who had also become a widower - a matter for which He would arrange a remedy from the very cross at Calvary - “When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son! Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home.” John 19:26-27

As we all know, the undertaker’s art holds no sway against the Giver of Life. His forst words to the woman may have seemed awkward, “Weep not!” The woman was experiencing the most horrible of loses, yet, Christ counsels her to ‘Weep not.” In the moments of our greatest calamity, we may find the Words of Christ to make little sense in light of our losses, but when He counsels, “Weep not’ there must be a great truth that escapes our understanding. Jesus came and touched the bier upon which the young man was carried. The bearers of the bier stood still. They could do nothing to restore the boy’s life. Their only purpose was to bear him to the burial site; but, when Jesus touched the bier, a far greater power overcame them and they stopped. Unable to do anything to carry the dead, there was One present who was the Author and Giver of Life - and that life eternal.

“Young man, I say unto thee, Arise” What powerful words, these - so profound that even dead ears, and dead hearts are compelled to respond. Lazarus heard them while lying entombed for four days. “And he that was dead sat up, and began to speak. And he delivered him to his mother.” What a beautiful occasion that was transformed in an instant from one of the greatest sorrows. The dead immediately responded to the voice of the Fountain of Living Waters. So may each of us who have heard that command of Christ to come alive in Him.

“I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:  And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?” John 11:25-26

The promise of Christ is to all who believe in faith. We are called by grace by that same Almighty Voice that lifted the young man from the funeral bier. and awakened Lazarus from the tomb. Though we die to the physical death sponsored by Satan, we arise in the glorious resurrection to the voice of the Author of Life - our Lord Jesus Christ. Believing in Christ gives an assurance that we shall never die finally, but live forever with Him.

Bishop Jerry Ogles

 

 

  Roy Morales-Kuhn, Bishop and Pastor

Saint Paul's Anglican Church - Diocese of the Midwest Anglican Orthodox Church -Suffragan Bishop of the AOC

 

Morning Prayer – Sixteenth Sunday after trinity

Psalm 66; First lesson: 1 Kings 12:1-20; Second lesson: Acts 19:21-41

O LORD, we beseech thee, let thy continual pity cleanse and defend thy Church; and, because it cannot continue in safety without thy succour, preserve it evermore by thy help and goodness; through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen

Hymns:   # 369, 143*, 553

Let us look at various verses of our psalm set aside for today. Pretty much the whole psalm is praising God for both blessings and the great benefits of his creation. ¹Make a joyful noise unto God, all ye lands: ²Sing forth the honor of his name: make his praise glorious. ³Say unto God, How terrible art thou in thy works! through the greatness of thy power shall thine enemies submit themselves unto thee. ⁴All the earth shall worship thee, and shall sing unto thee; they shall sing to thy name. Selah. The psalmist expresses how wonderful it is that God hears our prayers. “We should declare unto those that fear God, what he has done for our souls, and how he has heard and answered our prayers, inviting them to join us in prayer and praise; this will turn to our mutual comfort, and to the glory of God”.*  

 We will discover that sin will keep us from doing what is right in the sight of God and that sin will keep us bound and ineffectual in our faith walk.  If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me: But verily God hath heard me; he hath attended to the voice of my prayer.  “We cannot share these spiritual privileges, if we retain the love of sin in our hearts, though we refrain from the gross practice, Sin, regarded in the heart, will spoil the comfort and success of prayer; for the sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination of the Lord.”* So in this sense we should always regard any impediment in our lives that would keep us separated from our God and Creator. And so we must respond to the desire to please the Lord by seeking to remove ourselves from any such sinful behavior, again removing the barrier between us and our Lord and Savior. “But if the feeling of sin in the heart causes desires to be rid of it; if it be the presence of one urging a demand we know we must not, cannot comply with, this is an argument of sincerity”*. Come and hear, all ye that fear God, and I will declare what he hath done for my soul. I cried unto him with my mouth, and he was extolled with my tongue.

 So in this quest to do what is right, we should seek the Lord and his blessings. The simple act of sincere prayer will afford you the Peace of God. “And when we pray in simplicity and godly sincerity, our prayers will be answered. This will excite gratitude to Him who hath not turned away our prayer nor his mercy from us.” The most important aspect and concept that we learn from this psalm is the grace that flows from God, because we are to cry out to him in our weakness for that great mercy he has given us, as most profoundly expressed in the gift of his Son on the Cross to cover our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. “It was not prayer that fetched the deliverance, but his mercy that sent it. That is the foundation of our hopes, the fountain of our comforts; and ought to be the matter of our praises.”

²⁰ Blessed be God, which hath not turned away my prayer, nor his mercy from me.

   Earlier in this psalm we find the author praising God for the safety and surety that is found in the presence of the Lord God.  ⁸O bless our God, ye people, and make the voice of his praise to be heard: ⁹Which holdeth our soul in life, and suffereth not our feet to be moved.  ¹⁰For thou, O God, hast proved us: thou hast tried us, as silver is tried.

 What is interesting about the other two passages set aside for today is how they are concerned with authority. In the first lesson, drawn from 1st Kings chapter 12, we find the children of Israel exercising an act of rebellion. There is a situation that is setting up the division of the twelve tribes into two kingdoms in direct disobedience to God’s plan. He has made it clear through his prophets that the plan for a second king to be elected will begin the slow demise of a united Israel and eventual destruction of the same. Now as a completely opposite outcome, when we read about St. Paul’s trouble with civil society. It will be solved in a legal manner, using existing 

 Roman law, to solve what could have been the end of Paul’s life and ministry.  Interesting lessons to be learned from these two passages of scripture. I think this speaks to certain “Christian” groups who seek to circumvent current civil authority in the name of “Christian sovereignty.” Jesus as well as Paul taught us to work under the governments that God has placed in authority over us, because overall, God is in control. We even pray for our leaders both at the national, state, and local level, as directed by Paul’s teachings. We do have the caveat that as long as they “...duly consider whose authority they bear[        ] according to thy blessed word and ordinance...” know that if they should move away from true justice and law, then by implication, we need to follow God, not man. Possibly one of the greatest misunderstandings is what our purpose is here on earth. We must know and understand that this world is not our home, we are just passing through. We have been promised a place in heaven with our Father and Son our savior and the Holy Spirit, for eternity. So to pine for perfect peace or justice in this fallen world is truly and exercise in futility. We must fix our eyes upon our Savior, Jesus Christ, the once offered, perfect oblation for the salvation of the world. Let us seek the kingdom and all that is there, leaving this broken world behind. * Matthew Henry commentary (MHC) 1710

 Let us pray:

ASSIST us mercifully, O Lord, in these our supplications and prayers, and dispose the way of thy servants towards the attainment of everlasting salvation; that, among all the changes and chances of this mortal life, they may ever be defended by thy most gracious and ready help; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

 O Heavenly Father, who hast filled the world with beauty: Open, we beseech thee, our eyes to behold thy gracious hand in all thy works, that, rejoicing in thy whole creation, we may learn to serve thee with gladness, for the sake of him by whom all things were made, thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

     IN Christ alone during Trinity

                                                                                                                  +Roy

                                                                              

                                        

Rev Bryan Dabney of Saint John’s AOC Vicksburg, Mississippi  

We are always grateful to get these wonderful sermons from Rev. Bryan, they keep us on our toes!

 Sermon Text for Sixteenth Sunday after Trinity:

In our epistle lesson for today, the apostle Paul penned the following commendation to the church at Ephesus: Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think,  according to the power that worketh in us, unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen. (3:20- 21). In his commentary on this epistle, the Rev. Matthew Henry observed that, “There is an inexhaustible fullness of grace and mercy in God which the prayers of all the saints can never draw dry. Whatever we may ask or think, still God is able to do more, abundantly more. We should encourage our faith by a consideration of his all-sufficiency and almighty power.” And in a similar fashion, Pastor Charles H. Spurgeon stated the following: “What a serene and quiet life might you lead if you would leave providing to the God of providence!”

When we pray give us this day our daily bread in the Lord’s Prayer, we are asking God to provide for our sustenance at this time. Consider if you will the occasions where our gracious and loving God has opened his hand to us in ways which often were more than we needed? And how many times have we taken his gifts for granted? Witness the words of our Lord in St. Matthew’s gospel account wherein he called upon all to, seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you (6:25-34). Having an established daily prayer life opens the door to more blessings than we can imagine. As one church billboard read: “God answers knee-mail.” To paraphrase an older hymn, God showers us with blessings. The Rev. E. M. Bounds wrote extensively on the efficacious nature of prayer. He once noted that, “...prayer brings to us the blessings which we need, and which only God can give, and which prayer can alone convey to us... God’s only condition and limitation of prayer is found in the character of the one who prays. The measure of our faith and praying is the measure of his giving” (On Prayer, p. 206). With that in mind, let us consider a few examples of answered prayers as found within the pages of Scripture.

An anxious Jacob, after leaving the lands of Laban his father-in-law, returned home to the land of Canaan only to learn that his elder brother, Esau was headed his way with a large body of armed men. Along the way, he pleaded with God concerning his reunion with his estranged brother. God more than satisfied his need for security when his brother came and greeted him with a loving Embrace. (Genesis 32:9-12)

Hannah, the future mother of Samuel, poured out her soul unto the LORD in the tabernacle only to have the high priest rebuke her for being drunk. But when he heard the particulars of her prayer, he blessed her and sent her home. Hannah did receive from the LORD a son whom she dedicated to the LORD as she had promised and, in turn, God gave her five other children for which she had not asked. (I Samuel 1:9-18).

Nehemiah prayed in sorrow for God to restore the city of Jerusalem. In his capacity as a high Persian official he could hardly have imagined that his lord would permit him to journey from his court and restore the city of his ancestors. But that is exactly what Artaxerxes did. God can turn the heart of even the most obstinate person if such be necessary to assist his own. (Nehemiah 1:4-11)

Daniel prayed daily in the face of being an outlaw against Darius the king and was thrown by his enemies into the lions’ den. Nevertheless, God heard Daniel’s prayer and preserved him (Daniel 6:18-23). He eventually gave to the prophet his assurance by means of an angel that Daniel would receive an even better reward at the end of days. (Daniel 12:13)

And then there was St. Paul himself. After meeting our Lord on the road to Damascus, the apostle prayed and received not only the return of his sight, but he received the gift of God’s abundant grace which opened the way for him to advance the cause of Christ in his day. Such assurance was on his mind when he wrote to the youthful Timothy, Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing. (II St. Timothy 4:8)

As faithful Christians, we understand that God actually listens to our petitions and will, in his own time, answer them has he sees fit. That is where our patient acceptance of his will comes into play. We must learn to wait on him. But we also understand that he may not give us what we asked for and that for reasons which he will eventually make known to us. God is like that. He may close a door on an activity, or a relationship, only to open another which will be far and away better for us.

However, in many churches today, the desire for material gain has crowded out the notion of patient acceptance of God’s will as they have substituted the false gospel of prosperity for the gospel of Grace. This “new” understanding of God’s word runs counter to the sound bible teaching that not every person is spiritually equipped to handle such gifts. Witness the words of St. James from his epistle (4:1-15) as they govern the nature of our prayer requests and God’s response. God does not answer them because we frame the “right” words to say, or even half-heartedly believe them to be necessary. No, God gives his gifts both spiritual and material to those who, in his mind, can handle them. He is selective based upon his standards. Because God did not give you a material gift does not mean that he does not love you, or that you are not in good standing with him as a Christian. Trusting God with our needs does not translate into “showers of cash upon us.” We might enjoy such a gift, but how might it be used by most people? They would waste it on things and not on what was truly needed. Just reflect on the experiences of lottery and gambling winners. As they say, “Easy come, easy go.”

In closing, let us consider one final example: the widow of Nain from our gospel lesson (see St. Luke 17:11-15). She was in mourning for her dead son and only child. What a loss she had just experienced. She was likely pouring out her heart to God the Father when God the Son came and restored to her that which she had lost. Now that is answered prayer! What a gift she was given from him who hears us and who desires our good. Jesus Christ is far and away the greatest gift one could receive. Our Lord shed his blood so that all who are born again of his Spirit might be saved. My prayer for each of you is found in St. Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, That [God] would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth and height; and to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. (3:16-19)

Let us pray,

Father, fill us with thy most blessed Spirit, that we would only ask of thee that which is expedient for us, and then trust that you will answer our prayers in consideration of the same; for this we ask in the name of our Intercessor, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Have a blessed week!
Bryan+

 

Rev. David McMillan
AOC Minister at Large
Alabama

We are Fortunate today to have a sermon from Rev. David McMillian

 Jude 3: "What does it mean to earnestly contend for the faith?"

   A classic book which I was unacquainted with was one of the rewards of seminary education that I had in 2003. I was fortunate to be chosen to go to get another degree in the Army at another seminary. I was blessed to be able to go and teach Army Soldiers with it in ethics. One taught a course on the Lutheran who died at the hands of the Nazis before the Americans liberated the prison, Dietrich Bonhoeffer. He is well known in many Christian circles, The Cost of Discipleship, 1949. I will admit I never heard of it until 2003.  He writes about the Sermon on the Mount:

"Grace is costly...because it is God's grace in Jesus Christ...Is the price we are paying today with the collapse of the organized Churches anything else but an inevitable consequence of grace acquired too cheaply?... We poured out rivers of grace without end, but the call to rigorously follow Christ was seldom heard."

Jude 3-4 asks us to "earnestly contend for the faith, which was once delivered unto the saints." …. "³Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. ⁴For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ."

What does it mean to do this? This was a bit of an eye-opener for me as the word contend is really not what I thought the Greek means. It does not mean to argue. That gets us nowhere. The word is actually the English agonize epagōnízomai (from /epí, "focused on" and 73 /agṓn, "a contest, competition") – properly, to contend (literally, "struggle upon, appropriately"), i.e. with skill and commitment in opposing whatever is not of faith (God's persuasion).

Then I remembered one of my life verses. 2 Tim.2:24, "²⁴And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, ²⁵in meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowleding of the truth..." (Jude 24-25) This word is also used in I Cor. 9:25 where the Apostle talks about running the race but the one that is temperate runs with discipline (self).

I note that God has to be present and active in these situations with others that are difficult. Of course we are part of the equation. We have actions to take as Paul told Timothy. We have to be careful to not get in the way of God's work. Unbelievers really oppose themselves. We can be helpful to assist them in their journey to faith if we follow the prescription of being gentle and patient with meekness (charity of love here) knowing that our salvation too was not accomplished by arguing people or forcing our views on them. God will give the path and make it plain.

This was an aha moment for me at least to see a moment of why we see so few we talk to get it.  We either ignore their questions, unheard problems and thoughts we cannot hear. Instead, we are often argumentative which appeals to no one. Listening is the first priority here.

2. And what should we as the "beloved" in Christ talk about strongly struggle/agonize with others and ourselves about? Jude appeals to the saints (people of God) that they should contend earnestly for "the faith which was once delivered unto the saints." (Jude 3)

What is the faith? Acts 2:42 "And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers."

That which has been delivered. I Cor 15:1-3. "For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received.” Green- "Apostolic teaching, not whatever be the current fad...is the hallmark of authentic Christianity."  That, I believe, should be shouted from the mountain top!

2 John 9-10 The doctrine of Christ. 

How does this square with those who cheapen Christianity by saying it is just a set of propositions we say yes to? Michael Green in his excellent commentary on Jude published by Tyndale NT Commentaries says, "Christianity is .... a vibrant, vital personal relationship with Jesus which inflames, invigorates and permeates every aspect of political, social, and personal life."

Why lastly do we need to strive patiently for the faith once delivered unto the saints? 

3. " For certain men crept in unawares...." lit " had slipped in secretly" It was a serious problem because it was not easily detected, subtle.

We will discuss this next.  What was the heresy? False teachers had crept into the church according to Jude. 2.  Peter if you doubt Jude says it this way, ch 2. "But there were false prophets among the people, ....damnable heresies, denying the Lord that bought them ...." It was a teaching of do what you want as long as you say certain words such as, "I am a Christian." But I can do whatever and believe what I want. Sound familiar?

A favorite word of Jude's is ungodly.  vs 15, "their ungodly deeds" and vs 18 "their own ungodly lusts."

Conclusion----Strive earnestly in our own hearts and in the speaking to others of the faith that has been once delivered, the faith of the Apostles, not some made up fantasies.

Bonhoeffer again tells us," ...grace is costly, precisely because it is pure grace, because it is God's grace in Jesus Christ....Blessed are those who, in the knowledge of such grace, can live in the world without losing themselves in it. In following Christ their heavenly home become so certain that they are truly free for life in this world."

 David D. Mc Millan,
  Pastor, & Chaplain (Major) US Army, ret.

 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: Keep Praying Please

AOC Church of the Redeemer who still needs a Pastor, we are trying to find for them.

Bishop John – gall bladder removed – pray for complete recovery

Philippine Island – Praise God! – Baguio City schools have reopened

Brenda – fracture knee cap and shoulder, long recovery – at home and recovering well

Sandy Carpenter – Congestive Heart Failure – weak limbs – husband, Darryl and their family

Michele Gee- stage 3 cervical cancer

Darryl and Jennifer Baughn - assisting Darryl’s mother who is suffering with end of life issues

 Arnold and Martha Robbins – Senior Health issues

 Rhett Carter – has succumbed to his injuries – comfort for widow and parents, John & Karen

 Donny Clark – hospitalized for stroke – Anne – overseeing his care

Kathy – Kathy is beginning to heal please keep praying for this healing and severe anxiety related

Baby Baelin – Praise God, Baby Baelin has gone home – tube removed and doing well!

Donny – hospitalized due to multiple strokes and inability to speak, pray for David and Anne, family who are helping him in recovery

Ben Hancock – treatment for colon cancer

Rev. Geordie:  needs prayer for medical issues

Debbie Grimes: colon cancer – surgery

Bobby Effinger – recovery from heart surgery and ongoing heart issues

Joseph Broddie – recurring throat cancer

David Williams – serious cardiac issues – pray for David and wife Sherie for coping with changes

Colby Landry – cancer. Please pray for his wife, Leah and their family at this time of trial.

Persecuted Christians – subject to persecution and imprisonment for their faith.

Bobby Bryan – suffering with cancer and cardiac issues.

For an increase in the true faith in Jesus Christ here and across the globe.

USA – Leaders, citizens, military, first responders – President Trump & all Cabinet Members Safety

Ophelia – crippling arthritis pain

Dave – COPD – new diagnosis of Diabetes type 2 – Gastritis episode

Mary Lou – Praise the Lord, she is moved in and unpacking – keep praying for strength

 

Extended Issues need continued prayer;

Laurie with long Covid Symptoms – Extreme exhaustion, heart palpitations, breathing problems and unstable blood pressures are constant worries causing depression to settle in.

Malcom Allred – Cancer Treatment

 Keep Praying for the following:

Shamu-health issues, Jan Jessup-neuro dementia, AOC USA, AOC Missions,  Harper-IBS,
Jim Sevier- God’s Peace, Linda –MM, Alicia-caregiver, Sophie,, Colin and Lori Beall – cancer,
Malou – cancer, Janice, Bobby, Myra Cox, Faye Miller, Diane, Alice, Yves Mera,  Lucile,  Ryan,  Steven, Rency, Jack & Karen, Brannon, Joyce, Camella – starting radiation treatment for 3 weeks, Charlie, Dennis, Beverly and Howard, Betty, Deborah

 

 Points to Ponder:  September 21. The Beggar's Escort

" And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom:." Luke 16:22

Nothing is said about his funeral. Of course, if he had one — it was only a pauper's funeral. Earth had no honor for the beggar, no splendid coffin, no flowers. But the angels came — and were his bearers and escort to glory!

Notice also, that nothing is said about what became of his body. The body is of little matter, for the man himself — was no longer in that old, worn-out, battered frame. He was soon far away in the realm of eternal glory! When his body was dropped into the ground — the beggar, the real man, was carried away to Heaven! We see him there, no longer a beggar — but enjoying eternal blessedness.

There is still another thought here. We dread death. It seems like the end of existence. But really, to the Christian — death is only a fleeting incident in his life. It is just a moment's passage through an experience which we never can understand; and then — eternal glory!

One minute this poor beggar lies at the gate — despised, suffering, and starving!

The next moment, a strange sensation passes over him, and all is confusion.

And then he awakes — flying through the air with an angel-escort!

And in a moment — he is inside the celestial city, to dwell forever with the Lord!

There is no break in his life.

Death came also to the rich man. His riches could not save him from death. No doubt he had a splendid funeral. There would be a long procession, many mourners, a luxurious coffin, and every show of honor.

But who would not rather have the beggar's escort after death — than the finest funeral earth ever gave to a mortal?

There have been funerals of rich men at which there was genuine sorrow, where those who had been blessed by their benevolence came and wept by their coffins. But in this rich man's case, there were no sincere mourners, for the man had allowed the needy to lie hungry at his gates! He had lived for himself only — and no one really missed him when he was gone. "The rich man also died, and was buried; And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.!" Luke 16:22-23

In our common life in this world, if we are faithfully following Christ, we are continually in fields of rich pasture. Christ never leads us into any places in which there is nothing to feed us. Even in the hot plains of trial and sorrow — there is food. We sometimes think there is only barrenness in our toilsome life, filled with temptations, cares and sacrifices; but the Good Shepherd is ever with us — and there is always pasture.