Mark 8:27-38 (MSG) Fellowship of Faith @ St. John’s Meadows September 16, 2018 Mark 8:27-38 (MSG) Jesus and his disciples headed out for the villages around Caesarea Philippi. As they walked, he asked, “Who do the people say I am?” “Some say ‘John the Baptizer,’” they said. “Others say ‘Elijah.’ Still others say ‘one of the prophets.’” He then asked, “And you—what are you saying about me? Who am I?” Peter gave the answer: “You are the Christ, the Messiah.” Jesus warned them to keep it quiet, not to breathe a word of it to anyone. He then began explaining things to … Continue reading “Upside Down”

James 2:1-13 (MSG) Fellowship of Faith @ St. John’s Meadows September 9, 2018 James 2:1-13 (MSG) My dear friends, don’t let public opinion influence how you live out our glorious, Christ-originated faith. If a man enters your church wearing an expensive suit, and a street person wearing rags comes in right after him, and you say to the man in the suit, “Sit here, sir; this is the best seat in the house!” and either ignore the street person or say, “Better sit here in the back row,” haven’t you segregated God’s children and proved that you are judges who can’t be … Continue reading “gOS: God’s Operating System”

Song of Solomon 2:8-13; James 1:19-27(GNT) Fellowship of Faith @ St. John’s Meadows September 2, 2018   Song of Solomon 2:8-13 (GNT) The Song of Songs, also Song of Solomon is one of the scrolls found in the last section of the Tanakh (Hebrew Scripture), known as the Ketuvim (or “Writings”), and is a book of the Old Testament. The Song of Songs is unique within the Hebrew bible: it shows no interest in Law or Covenant or Yahweh the God of Israel, nor does it teach or explore Wisdom like Proverbs or Ecclesiastes (although it does have some affinities to Wisdom literature, as the ascription to Solomon indicates); instead, it … Continue reading “In the Beginning … Love”

Back from vacation … 1 Kings 8:22-43, John 6:62-69 (MSG) Fellowship of Faith @ St. John’s Meadows August 26, 2018   1 Kings 8:22-43 (MSG) Before the entire congregation of Israel, Solomon took a position before the Altar, spread his hands out before heaven, and prayed, O God, God of Israel, there is no God like you in the skies above or on the earth below who unswervingly keeps covenant with his servants and relentlessly loves them as they sincerely live in obedience to your way. You kept your word to David my father, your personal word. You did exactly what you … Continue reading “Should I Stay or Should I Go?”

Ephesians 1:3-6, 11-14 (MSG) South Presbyterian Church’s Fellowship of Faith – July 15, 2018 The Reverend Deborah Fae Swift   Ephesians 1:3-6, 11-14 (MSG) How blessed is God! And what a blessing he is! He’s the Father of our Master, Jesus Christ, and takes us to the high places of blessing in him. Long before he laid down earth’s foundations, he had us in mind, had settled on us as the focus of his love, to be made whole and holy by his love. Long, long ago he decided to adopt us into his family through Jesus Christ. (What pleasure he took … Continue reading “Signed, Sealed, Delivered – I’m Yours”

Mark 6:1-13 (VOICE) South Presbyterian Church’s Fellowship of Faith – July 8, 2018 The Reverend Deborah Fae Swift   Mark 6:1-13 The Voice (VOICE) 6 Jesus went back into His own hometown where He had grown up, and His disciples followed Him there. 2 When the Sabbath came, He went into the synagogue in Nazareth and began to teach as He had done elsewhere, and many of those who heard Him were astonished. Those in the Synagogue: Where did He gain this wisdom? And what are all these stories we’ve been hearing about the signs and healings He’s performed? Where did He get that kind of power? 3 Isn’t this Jesus, the … Continue reading “A Model for Ministry”

Deuteronomy 10:12-13  (AMP), Psalm 130  (AMP) South Presbyterian’s Fellowship of Faith July 1, 2018 – Communion Sunday   Psalm 130  (AMP) Out of the depths [of distress] I have cried to You, O Lord. Lord, hear my voice! Let Your ears be attentive To the voice of my supplications. If You, Lord, should keep an account of our sins and treat us accordingly, O Lord, who could stand [before you in judgment and claim innocence]? But there is forgiveness with You, That You may be feared and worshiped [with submissive wonder]. I wait [patiently] for the Lord, my soul [expectantly] waits, And in His word do I … Continue reading “Unalienable Rights”