What do you see?

July 13th, 2018 by Christopher Caudle

The prophet Amos is shown a string in our passage for Sunday. More exactly, a plumb line.

God shows him this instrument used by skilled builders; held above and weighted below.

A simple tool with powerful diagnostic potential.

There is much more to the prophet Amos and the book that collects his ministry-long span of messages and visions. You can see a brief overview of the book here that may help put his message in context.

Overview of Amos

Our readings for Sunday cover both ends of the string. Ephesians chapter 1 exults in the plan of God that began long ago and high above us. Mark 6 recounts the grisly machinations that led to the murder of John the Baptist and Herod's later reflections of Jesus' current ministry after John's death. The sky above and the ground below.

Each of us are most comfortable somewhere along the string, either preferring our faith to be towards the summarized side or the granular specifics.

Amos saw that God's plan was for Israel (and us) to see that heaven and earth were already linked together. Even Herod recognized (without intention) that Jesus held a similar view. But this doesn't just lead to recognition, but to repentance. And repentance leads to the other end of the string.

After church on Sunday, join us for CityServe. We will leave the church at 1220 to join others as we share a meal with neighbors in our community who are currently homeless. More details are in our upcoming events email and in the Sunday bulletin.

Pray for Mission in the City this coming week as middle-schoolers gather on our campus for service projects, worship and time together. There is a team of adults and interns who are guiding this week of ministry, but there are still opportunities to help fuel this week of cooperative ministry among churches in our community.

See you Sunday,
Christopher+

Related

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February 9, 2018 In Friday Epistles
Friday Epistle for February 23, 2018
February 23, 2018 In Friday Epistles
Friday Epistle for February 17
February 17, 2017 In Friday Epistles

About this author:

Christopher Caudle

Christopher Caudle

Fr. Christopher has an authentic sense of humor and is a man after the Lord's own heart. He pastors the members of New Covenant Church while keeping his family as a keen priority. Fr. Christopher holds BA in History from the University of North Carolina and a MA in Biblical Studies from Reformed Theology Seminary.

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