05 5th Wednesday in Lent outline

1. Many are imprisoned in life in many ways.  Tonight talk about imprisoned in prison.

1. What I learned at Seminary during my institutional module

1. Can be scary and uncomfortable, but is most rewarding
2. Important because it gives us an opportunity to be part of God’s reconciliation

1. Gives us an opportunity to proclaim his forgiveness and mercy and grace.

1. It is humbling because all of us need God’s grace equally.

1. We dare not think more highly of ourselves than we ought.

1. Bernie Klingsmith

1. Nijole Sadunaite

2 Corinthians 5:16

16 From now on, therefore, we regard no one from a human point of view;b even though we once knew Christ from a human point of view,c we know him no longer in that way. 17 So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new! 18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself,d not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting the message of reconciliation to us. 20 So we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us; we entreat you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

[1]

8 Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, a descendant of David—that is my gospel, 9 for which I suffer hardship, even to the point of being chained like a criminal. But the word of God is not chained. 10 Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, so that they may also obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory. 11 The saying is sure:

If we have died with him, we will also live with him;

12     if we endure, we will also reign with him;

if we deny him, he will also deny us;

13     if we are faithless, he remains faithful—

for he cannot deny himself.

A Worker Approved by God

14 Remind them of this, and warn them before Goda that they are to avoid wrangling over words, which does no good but only ruins those who are listening. 15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved by him, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly explaining the word of truth. [2]

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b Gk according to the flesh

c Gk according to the flesh

d Or God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself

[1]The Holy Bible : New Revised Standard Version. 1989 (2 Co 5:16). Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers.

a Other ancient authorities read the Lord

[2]The Holy Bible : New Revised Standard Version. 1989 (2 Ti 2:8). Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers.