Worship preview for Sunday, August 14.

Press Release: August 13th edition.

First United Methodist Church

This Weekend: Sunday at 10:30am “Membership and the Scriptures” Scriptures: Romans 15:1-16 and 2 Timothy 3:10-17

with Rev. Christopher Eshelman preaching.

One of my passions as a Pastor is to encourage people to read and wrestle with Scripture; to go deeper in their faith and engage the stories. One of the things I cherish about the Wesleyan/United Methodist approach to Scripture is that we take it seriously, without falling into the self-serving traps of literalism and inerrancy. God speaks through the Scriptures, even as we recognize that inspired human authors, and we ourselves, have limitations, biases, and do not yet fully understand.

The Jewish and later Christian councils that debated and set the canon – that is, what books are included in the Holy Bible – knew full well that there were tensions among them. One place will say Isreal obeyed God and completely exterminated the Cannanites… while numerous others document how the Cannanites and other peoples continually tempted Israel to turn away from their God. One place will make it clear that Moabites are evil, another tells the story of the faith and loyalty of a Moabite woman who ultimately becomes the great King David’s grandmother. We are supposed to wrestle with the great questions Scripture raises. We are supposed to work out our own salvation, to find a way to walk the narrow path, to be in the world but not of the world, yet sent to the world. (see Philippians 2:12, Matthew 7:13-14, John 17:14-19). Sunday we will continue our series on membrship and the articles of religion at the core of United Methodists beliefs with another look at the Bible, what it says about itself, and how Jesus, the Word made flesh, cites it.

If you do not have a church home, or just need a change, you are invited to join in worship at 10:30am at 301 S. National, coming just as you are with your questions, doubts and hopes - and to experience the transformative, healing love and grace of Christ - which makes us whole.

See www.firstumcfsks.org/newvisitorsfor more information on what to expect.

This Week: Wednesday, August 10th, 5:30pm Feeding Families in His Name– this weekly free meal is available to everyone without obligation.