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New Utrecht Reformed Church
328 Years
1677-2005
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326 Years
1677-2003
Webmaster:
val11214@yahoo.com
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Order of
Service
24 August
2003
Proper 16
(16th
Sunday
after Pentecost)
Bible Study
Led by Bette
Johnson Sohm,
licensed preacher in the Methodist Church
and member of Faith United
Methodist Church, Staten Island.
Epistle: Ephesians 6:10-20
NRSV
- Paraphrase
* Ephesians 6:
10-20
........If I could say one last thing to
you, it would be this: toughen yourselves up by drawing strength from
God. Equip yourself with everything God offers, because you’ll need it
to detect and survive the guerrilla tactics the Devil will use against
you. What we’re up against here is not simply human opposition. This is
a life-and-death struggle against the corrupt spiritual forces and
cosmic powers of evil that are responsible for the destructive chaos
which is presently threatening to engulf the world. So arm yourselves
with everything God gives you so that you’ll be ready and able to hold
your ground when all hell breaks loose.
........It’s time to stand up and be
counted. Kit yourselves out in truth, righteousness, peace, faith and
salvation, and you’ll be ready for anything. Truth is like a belt on
which everything else hangs. Justice and righteousness protect your
heart like a bullet-proof vest. Your passion for spreading peace will
get you through the hard miles like a sturdy pair of boots. Faith is
like a riot shield that protects you from the fire bombs and anything
else the evil one throws at you. God’s salvation is like a good helmet
— even if you do get knocked down, it will keep your head in one piece!
And finally, when it is time to go on the attack, there is one
indispensable weapon — the word of God — the same weapon the Spirit
used to bring us to our knees.
........And speaking of being on your
knees, none of this armoury will be any use at all unless you are
putting some serious time into prayer. Pray long and hard with the
Spirit as your partner and mentor. Keep your eyes and ears open and
keep plugging away in prayer for all your comrades in this holy quest.
Remember me in your prayers too. I might be an ambassador bearing God’s
message, but my opportunities are rather limited here in the detention
centre! So for the opportunities I do get to speak, pray that I’ll know
exactly what to say and that I’ll have the guts to come out with the
whole thing, the whole wondrous mystery of the good news in Christ.
©2000 Nathan
Nettleton www.laughingbird.net
I
would like you to ponder and share responses to the following
questions. Remember that you are each trying to discern what God is
saying to you.
Which piece of Armor is most important to you right now?
How might you put on that piece of armor?
What might be getting in your way in putting on the whole armor of God?
Please note what the response to the last question is from the person
on the right. You may want to write it down. I will ask you to close by
praying around these small circles that the impediments be removed.
Hymns: "We Give Thee But
Thine Own" W. How
"Soldiers of
Christ, Arise" C. Wesley
News
- July 2003
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