Claimed, gathered and sent

Ephesians 6:10-20 10   Be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his power. 11   Put on the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12   For our struggle is not against enemies of blood and flesh, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 13   Therefore take up the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to withstand on that evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. 14   Stand therefore, and fasten the belt of truth around your waist, and put on the breastplate of righteousness. 15   As shoes for your feet put on whatever will make you ready to proclaim the gospel of peace. 16   With all of these, take the shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17   Take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.   18  ...

This is the sermon I preached Sunday, Aug.16 at St. Timothy's and St. Mark's.  The text is Ephesians 5:10-20.        One of my seminary professors, Dr. Marty Stevens, told the story of her experience at church in Gettysburg one Sunday. She was talking with a woman who had retired from teaching at the seminary. Full of enthusiasm, Dr. Stevens asked this woman what she was expecting God to do this Sunday in worship. The bewildered retired professor said she didn't know. She didn't come to worship with any particular type of expectation. All she did was come to church. She asked Dr. Stevens, "What do you expect?" Dr. Stevens replied, "I expect miracles!"           What do you expect when you come to church? Do you believe God is real and his presence is here in this place and everyplace we go? Do you simply come to church with no expectations or do you expect miracles? I have a feeling that many of us hav...

Ephesians 5:15-20 15   Be careful then how you live, not as unwise people but as wise, 16   making the most of the time, because the days are evil. 17   So do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. 18   Do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery; but be filled with the Spirit, 19   as you sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, singing and making melody to the Lord in your hearts, 20   giving thanks to God the Father at all times and for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. How do we get "filled with the Spirit?" We received the Holy Spirit in baptism, but doesn't it seem that some people seem more in tune with God and God's people than others? Here's one way to be filled with the Spirit: In the reading from Ephesians we are encouraged to give “ thanks to God the Father at all times and for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ ” (Eph. 5:20). Orthodox Christians teach a tradi...