Inspired by the event this Memorial Day at the cannon in the corner of the cemetery in Harford yesterday, I am excited to announce the upcoming four-part sermon series, Shine.

The June 2nd sermon is titled Shine where you're called. This June 9th sermon is titled Shine where there is darkness. The Father's Day (June 16th) sermon is titled Shine in our Father's love, and the June 23rd sermon is titled Shine so the world will see.  

The grounding text for this series comes from Paul in 2 Corinthians 4:1-12, the lectionary text we have this Sunday. As we begin this series, note the very first sentence. "You see, we don't go around preaching about ourselves." 

All of us can think of a time or two (or more) when someone went long and deep into their accolades and accomplishments. Perhaps we enjoyed hearing how God was using them in specific and wonderful ways. We are to lift one another up, according to 1 Thessalonians 5:11.

Then, too, there comes a time we have heard boasting--or have boasted ourselves. 

The goal of this sermon series is to live the love Jesus gives us to share into the world. Each week, we'll take slightly different approaches into this topic. Join us. 

Here is the text we have for Sunday, June 2nd. 

2 Corinthians 4:5-12, NLT

5 You see, we don’t go around preaching about ourselves. We preach that Jesus Christ is Lord, and we ourselves are your servants for Jesus’ sake. 6 For God, who said, “Let there be light in the darkness,” has made this light shine in our hearts so we could know the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ.

7 We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves.

8 We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. 9 We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed. 10 Through suffering, our bodies continue to share in the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may also be seen in our bodies.

11 Yes, we live under constant danger of death because we serve Jesus, so that the life of Jesus will be evident in our dying bodies. 12 So we live in the face of death, but this has resulted in eternal life for you.

 

 

Dear Jesus,

We do live in the face of death, but this death is the death of our own self-seeking, self-serving agendas. 

Each day, help us shine in and through Your love.

Amen.