Saint Mark: “Dear Church of The Incarnation…”

This is a painful homily to preach because I, for one, REALLY REALLY want to worship God in a beautiful and sacred space. And this is NOT just a shallow or vain sentiment! I have good bible-based and theologically-informed reasons for why a beautiful space in which to worship is good…aye, maybe even BETTER than…

Don’t think you need a lot of extra equipment for this. You are the equipment.

Eugene Peterson’s Translation Mark 6:1-13

Eugene Peterson’s Paraphrase of Jesus in Mark 6.

8 It is not a question of our equipment, but of our poverty; not what we bring with us, but what he puts in us; not our natural virtues, our strength of character, our knowledge, our experience; all that is of no avail.… God can do nothing with people who think they will be of use to him.

Oswald Chambers (Lecturer and Missionary)

The Father is the Sender, the “Lord of the harvest”; the incarnate Son is the model embodiment of mission in the world; and the Holy Spirit is the divine, empowering presence for all of mission.

Timothy C. Tennent

Faith is a living, bold trust in God’s grace, so certain of God’s favor that it would risk death a thousand times trusting in it.

Martin Luther (Founder of the German Reformation)