We Receive: March 12, 2006 Epworth Worship Celebration

2nd Sunday of Lent (Year B)

Welcome. In Lent we understand ourselves as being "under construction.” Lent is a Spring housecleaning of the soul. The simplicity of Lent calls us to focus on things that matter most. Today’s lesson brings to mind the reception of faith as the foundation for our development as children of God. The first in a series of inserts offers us insight into our planned relocation. As we prepare for worship, you may wish to reflect on all the gifts we receive from God, but especially the gift of divine love. How will our receipt of God’s love in Christ shape your practice of love for others?

New Testament Lesson
Romans 4:13-25

For the promise that he would inherit the world
did not come to Abraham or to his descendants through the law
but through the righteousness of faith.
If it is the adherents of the law who are to be the heirs,
faith is null and the promise is void.
For the law brings wrath; but where there is no law, neither is there violation.
For this reason it depends on faith,
in order that the promise may rest on grace
and be guaranteed to all his descendants, not only to the adherents of the law
but also to those who share the faith of Abraham
(for he is the father of all of us,
as it is written, "I have made you the father of many nations")
in the presence of the God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead
and calls into existence the things that do not exist.
Hoping against hope, he believed that he would become "the father of many nations,"
according to what was said, "So numerous shall your descendants be."
He did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body,
which was already as good as dead
(for he was about a hundred years old),
or when he considered the barrenness of Sarah's womb.
No distrust made him waver concerning the promise of God,
but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God,
being fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised.
Therefore his faith "was reckoned to him as righteousness."
Now the words, "it was reckoned to him," were written not for his sake alone,
but for ours also.
It will be reckoned to us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead,
who was handed over to death for our trespasses and was raised for our justification.

Sermon - We Receive Rev. Jack Abel
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