01/14/2018
John 1:43-51
Chris Breslin
“There are no unsacred places; there are only sacred places and desecrated places.” –Wendell Berry
“I was ready to give up. With my cup of coffee sitting untouched before me, I tried to think of a way to move out of the picture without appearing a coward. In this state of exhaustion, when my courage had all but gone, I decided to take my problem to God. With my head in my hands, I bowed over the kitchen table and prayed aloud.
The words I spoke to God that midnight are still vivid in my memory. “I am here taking a stand for what I believe is right. But now I am afraid. The people are looking to me for leadership, and if I stand before them without strength and courage, they too will falter. I am at the end of my powers. I have nothing left. I’ve come to the point where I can’t face it alone.
At that moment, I experienced the presence of the Divine as I had never experienced God before. It seemed as though I could hear the quiet assurance of an inner voice saying: “Stand up for justice, stand up for truth; and God will be at your side forever.” Almost at once my fears began to go. My uncertainty disappeared. I was ready to face anything.” –Martin Luther King, Jr.
“Follow me, Jesus says, follow me into my death, because it is only in my death and resurrection that the kingdom comes. Nothing counts now except being last, least, lost, little and dead with me. Follow me, Jesus says. And in the end these two simple words are all that matter.” –Robert Farrar Capon
Sermon Resources:
Stride Toward Freedom: The Montgomery Story by Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr
Scripture:
Songs for Today’s Worship Gathering:
He’s Calling by Way
Holy, Holy, Holy by Heber/Dykes
Praise the Savior, Now & Ever by Fortunatus/Moore
Heal Us, Emmanuel by Cowper/Twit/Morton
Jesus, Keep Me Near the Cross by Crosby/Doane
How Can I Keep From Singing by Lowry
Doxology
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