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"Proclaiming Clearly"
Message
summary:
Mixed messages
can sure be
funny but also
dangerous. We
must be
careful not to
send a mixed
message in
regard to
proclaiming
the Gospel.
Listen to our message on your audio player.
"And
pray for us,
too, that God
may open a
door for our
message, so
that we may
proclaim the
mystery of
Christ, for
which I am in
chains. Pray
that I may
proclaim it
clearly, as I
should"
(Colossians
4:3,4).
Our lead photo today was taken in a park. Apparently the Toilets and Fragrant Garden are located in the same direction, so they merged two locations on to one sign post. We sure hope they are not in the same place as we have been to some rather malodorous park restrooms and would certainly not describe them as a fragrant garden!
There's
a plethora of
unintentionally
funny signage
to be found.
For instance:
1)
A shoe repair
shop
advertising
"New Souls and
heels" (I am
pretty sure
they mean
soles).
2) A restaurant named “Edible”, which is a pretty low bar for any place that sells food!
3)
A sign on a
restaurant -
"Homely food
served here".
Would that
mean
unattractive
food? (I think
probably they
meant
home-cooked
food.)
4) A sign that states "Parking Prohibited-Parking will be Fine". (The sign maker forgot to add the "d").
Through the years there have also been many church bulletin bloopers About 20 years ago I posted some of these to a humor blog which I no longer post to. Here's a sampling and below I will post the links to the blog if you want to read more:
1)
Remember in
prayer the
many who are
sick of our
church and
community.
2)
Potluck
supper: prayer
and medication
to follow.
3)
Weight
Watchers will
meet at 7 p.m.
Please use the
large double
door at the
side entrance.
4) A missionary from Africa, Bertha Belch, was to speak at Calvary Memorial Church. The announcement read: “Come tonight and hear Bertha Belch all the way from Africa.”
Mixed messages sure can be funny but also dangerous. We must be careful not to send a mixed message in regard to proclaiming the Gospel.
Yesterday I taught our Sunday School class on the Book of Colossians which included our daily text. Paul is writing from prison and exhorting the Colossian believers and each of us (his letter is "for all who have not seen me face to face" Colossians 2:1).
You would've expected Paul to make a prayer request: "Remember me in prayer that I would be delivered from this rat-infested prison". That would certainly have been appropriate. We have all prayed that God would free us and others from many forms of discomfort. Paul did ask for prayer regarding his "thorn in the flesh" (2 Corinthians 12:8).
But he appealed for the Colossians to pray:
1) "that God may open a door for our message"
2) "that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ"
3) "that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should"
There is much richness here but let's just focus on that phrase, "proclaim it clearly". Other versions render it, "be able to preach so everyone can understand" (NLV), "make the message as clear as possible" (CEV), and "make that mystery plain to men" (Phillips).
"Paul's desire was that he preach plainly and in such a clear manner that the gospel would be readily understood by all who had ears to hear and such should be the desire of every Christian who speaks forth the mystery of Christ in us, the hope of glory for the Jew and Gentile believer now one in Christ." (Precept Austin Online Commentary)
Let
us make this
our prayer as
well for
ourselves and
for our
leaders.
Be encouraged today, Hebrews 3:13.
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily
prayer:
Father, just
as Paul asked
the Colossian
believers to
pray for him
in his witness
for Christ, I
also ask of
You to open a
door for me to
share
the message of
the gospel,
that You would
enable me to
proclaim the
mystery of
Christ who
came to die
for the sins
of the world
that we might
be saved, that
the words I
speak leave a
clear message
upon the
hearts and
minds of those
to whom I
speak and lead
them to the
saving faith
of Jesus
Christ in
whose name I
pray. Amen.
Today's
Suggested
Music and
Supplemental
Resources
"Oh What a Reason" Watch on YouTube This is a joyful reminder of the hope we have in Jesus Christ and the life we’ve been given through His grace. Recorded live during a worship gathering at Shadow Mountain Community Church.
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Scripture references are from The Holy Bible: New International Version. © 1984 by International Bible Society; NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. and the King James Version and a variety of other versions.
Personal Mission Statement: "I am created by God to bring Him glory. Through God's Son Jesus Christ I have been redeemed and make it my life's goal to please the Lord. My mission in life is to honor God through my faith and obedience and prepare myself and all whom I may influence for eternity."
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