Weekly Bible Verses: Ezekiel 18:1-32: They Shall Surely Live

Ezekiel 18: The word of the Lord came to me: ²What do you mean by repeating this proverb concerning the land of Israel, “The parents have eaten sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge”? ³As I live, says the Lord God, this proverb shall no more be used by you in Israel. ⁴Know that all lives are mine; the life of the parent as well as the life of the child is mine: it is only the person who sins that shall die. ⁵If a man is righteous and does what is lawful and right— ⁶if he does not eat upon the mountains or lift up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, does not defile his neighbor’s wife or approach a woman during her menstrual period, ⁷does not oppress anyone, but restores to the debtor his pledge, commits no robbery, gives his bread to the hungry and covers the naked with a garment, ⁸does not take advance or accrued interest, withholds his hand from iniquity, executes true justice between contending parties, ⁹follows my statutes, and is careful to observe my ordinances, acting faithfully—such a one is righteous; he shall surely live, says the Lord God.
¹⁰If he has a son who is violent, a shedder of blood, ¹¹who does any of these things (though his father does none of them), who eats upon the mountains, defiles his neighbor’s wife, ¹²oppresses the poor and needy, commits robbery, does not restore the pledge, lifts up his eyes to the idols, commits abomination, ¹³takes advance or accrued interest; shall he then live? He shall not. He has done all these abominable things; he shall surely die; his blood shall be upon himself. ¹⁴But if this man has a son who sees all the sins that his father has done, considers, and does not do likewise, ¹⁵who does not eat upon the mountains or lift up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, does not defile his neighbor’s wife, ¹⁶does not wrong anyone, exacts no pledge, commits no robbery, but gives his bread to the hungry and covers the naked with a garment, ¹⁷withholds his hand from iniquity, takes no advance or accrued interest, observes my ordinances, and follows my statutes; he shall not die for his father’s iniquity; he shall surely live. ¹⁸As for his father, because he practiced extortion, robbed his brother, and did what is not good among his people, he dies for his iniquity. ¹⁹Yet you say, “Why should not the son suffer for the iniquity of the father?” When the son has done what is lawful and right, and has been careful to observe all my statutes, he shall surely live. ²⁰The person who sins shall die. A child shall not suffer for the iniquity of a parent, nor a parent suffer for the iniquity of a child; the righteousness of the righteous shall be his own, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be his own.
²¹But if the wicked turn away from all their sins that they have committed and keep all my statutes and do what is lawful and right, they shall surely live; they shall not die. ²²None of the transgressions that they have committed shall be remembered against them; for the righteousness that they have done they shall live. ²³Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked, says the Lord God, and not rather that they should turn from their ways and live? ²⁴But when the righteous turn away from their righteousness and commit iniquity and do the same abominable things that the wicked do, shall they live? None of the righteous deeds that they have done shall be remembered; for the treachery of which they are guilty and the sin they have committed, they shall die. ²⁵Yet you say, “The way of the Lord is unfair.” Hear now, O house of Israel: Is my way unfair? Is it not your ways that are unfair? ²⁶When the righteous turn away from their righteousness and commit iniquity, they shall die for it; for the iniquity that they have committed they shall die. ²⁷Again, when the wicked turn away from the wickedness they have committed and do what is lawful and right, they shall save their life. ²⁸Because they considered and turned away from all the transgressions that they had committed, they shall surely live; they shall not die. ²⁹Yet the house of Israel says, “The way of the Lord is unfair.” O house of Israel, are my ways unfair? Is it not your ways that are unfair?
³⁰Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, all of you according to your ways, says the Lord God. Repent and turn from all your transgressions; otherwise iniquity will be your ruin. ³¹Cast away from you all the transgressions that you have committed against me, and get yourselves a new heart and a new spirit! Why will you die, O house of Israel? ³²For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone, says the Lord God. Turn, then, and live.

Sermon for 9/18

Pastor Joseph Sum - 9/18 Sermon

Weekly Bible Verses: Matthew 20: 1-16: The Last Will Be First ...

Matthew 20: “For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. ²After agreeing with the laborers for the usual daily wage, he sent them into his vineyard. ³When he went out about nine o’clock, he saw others standing idle in the marketplace; ⁴and he said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.’ So they went. ⁵When he went out again about noon and about three o’clock, he did the same. ⁶And about five o’clock he went out and found others standing around; and he said to them, ‘Why are you standing here idle all day?’ ⁷They said to him, ‘Because no one has hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard.’ ⁸When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his manager, ‘Call the laborers and give them their pay, beginning with the last and then going to the first.’ ⁹When those hired about five o’clock came, each of them received the usual daily wage. ¹⁰Now when the first came, they thought they would receive more; but each of them also received the usual daily wage. ¹¹And when they received it, they grumbled against the landowner, ¹²saying, ‘These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.’ ¹³But he replied to one of them, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong; did you not agree with me for the usual daily wage? ¹⁴Take what belongs to you and go; I choose to give to this last the same as I give to you. ¹⁵Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or are you envious because I am generous?’ ¹⁶So the last will be first, and the first will be last.”

2011 Central Union Association Rally

Sunday, October 16 - 3:00-6:00 PM

Octorara High School Auditorium

228 Highland Avenue, Atglen, PA
Tickets: $5.00

Featuring Concert by “Point of Grace” and Message by Author Bob Lenz

Community CROP Walk to End Hunger, Sunday, October 2, 2011

Crop Walkers Gathering

Community CROP Walk

Help in the Fight against Hunger

Statistics of those who suffer from hunger are staggering:

• Of the 7 billion people in the world, an estimated 925 million suffer from hunger, 13.1 %, or almost 1 in 7.
• Food pantries and soup kitchens served more than 37 million Americans, according to Feeding America's 2010 hunger study. This figure is up 46% from 2006.
• The latest USDA report indicates that 10% of Pennsylvania households experienced food insecurity at some point in the last 12 months.

We can help in the fight against hunger. How? One step at a time! Take that next step by participating in the upcoming CROP Walk!  Join with hundreds of caring friends and neighbors from our local community in a fundraising walk to help in the fight against hunger. Make a real difference in the lives of the needy here in central Chester County and worldwide. Together, we can lessen their burden.

This is the 25th anniversary of the Downingtown CROP Walk. Our walk benefits local neighborhood food cupboards including the Lord’s Pantry, the Emergency Food Cupboard of Coatesville, Steeple to People in Honeybrook, the Deacon’s Pantry in Frazer, and the Salvation Army in West Chester. In addition, through Church World Service, the walk provides relief to famine-stricken areas worldwide to those desperate to obtain food and water for their families. Last year 440 walkers from 27 churches and high schools participated in our community CROP Walk raising an all-time record of $30,208.

Consider participating in this year’s CROP Walk!  Support the walk with your generous donation. Food and water – you can help ensure there’s enough for all – one step at a time.

DOWNINGTOWN COMMUNITY CROP WALK

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2011, 2:00 PM

The 4.5 mile walk follows the Struble Trail in Downingtown. It begins and ends at Central Presbyterian Church on Rt. 113. Walk only as far as you are able. Walkers of all ages are encouraged to participate. Refreshments are served after the walk.

Beverlee Everett is the CROP Walk recruiter spearheading our church’s promotion and participation. Sign up with her today!

“He who gives to the poor honors God.” Proverbs 14:31

It's a beautiful walk for a beautiful cause! Join us!

Silent Auction to Support ECBC's Missionary to Cuba!

A Celebration for Sue Hegarty

          American Baptist missionary serving in Cuba

           Sponsored by “The Cuba Connection”

                Sue’s Missionary Partnership Team

    WHAT:   An opportunity to meet Sue Hegarty,

learn what God is doing in Cuba, and participate in a Silent  

Auction to raise funds to support her ministry.

   WHERE:  Exton Community Baptist Church

    114 East Swedesford Road, Exton, PA 19341

   WHEN:   Saturday, October 15, 2011

    6:30 pm – Silent Auction, Refreshments and Fellowship

    7:30 pm – Program and Auction Results

A free-will offering will be received for Sue’s ministry.

Prayers for All Who Suffer in the Wake of 9/11/01

Today we remember all who were lost on that terrible day ten years ago. We remember all the heroes who struggled hard to save lives in the hours that followed and who worked on to retrieve those lost for their families. We remember those heroes who have fallen in the years since, having selflessly breathed in the toxic dusts swirling around the World Trade Center debris. We remember the families and friends of all the fallen, who grieve in their absence and struggle with this dark anniversary. We pray for you all and stand with you in your struggles.

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Psalm 46:1
Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Matthew 5:4

Let us pray together:

Merciful God, comfort us as we face the valley of the shadow of death. Lift our eyes from the dark depths to the hills from whence help comes. aid us to see your light, that it may be for us a light upon the path and a lamp upon the way until we come into the fullness of your presence, where there is no shadow or hiding. Amen

Rally Day: September 11, 2011

Here's a little reminder of a change in our church schedule. Summer is over and summer hours are put away for another year. Here's what happens today:

Refreshments will be available at 9:30AM to jump start Sunday School Rally Day.  There will be juices, bagels and donuts to be set up in Narthex.  Sunday worship will begin at 11:00AM .

If you have never been to ECBC before and wish to visit, stop on by. You will be most welcome. 

Weekly Bible Verses: Matthew 18: 21-35: How Often Should I Forgive?

Matthew 18:²¹Then Peter came and said to him, “Lord, if another member of the church sins against me, how often should I forgive? As many as seven times?” ²²Jesus said to him, “Not seven times, but, I tell you, seventy-seven times. ²³“For this reason the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his slaves. ²⁴When he began the reckoning, one who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him; ²⁵and, as he could not pay, his lord ordered him to be sold, together with his wife and children and all his possessions, and payment to be made. ²⁶So the slave fell on his knees before him, saying, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.’ ²⁷And out of pity for him, the lord of that slave released him and forgave him the debt. ²⁸But that same slave, as he went out, came upon one of his fellow slaves who owed him a hundred denarii; and seizing him by the throat, he said, ‘Pay what you owe.’ ²⁹Then his fellow slave fell down and pleaded with him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you.’ ³⁰But he refused; then he went and threw him into prison until he would pay the debt. ³¹When his fellow slaves saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their lord all that had taken place. ³²Then his lord summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked slave! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. ³³Should you not have had mercy on your fellow slave, as I had mercy on you?’ ³⁴And in anger his lord handed him over to be tortured until he would pay his entire debt. ³⁵So my heavenly Father will also do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother or sister from your heart.”

Weekly Bible Verses: Romans 13:8-14: Love Is the Fulfilling of the Law

Romans 13: ⁸Owe no one anything, except to love one another; for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. ⁹The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery; You shall not murder; You shall not steal; You shall not covet”; and any other commandment, are summed up in this word, “Love your neighbor as yourself.” ¹⁰Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore, love is the fulfilling of the law.
¹¹Besides this, you know what time it is, how it is now the moment for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we became believers; ¹²the night is far gone, the day is near. Let us then lay aside the works of darkness and put on the armor of light; ¹³let us live honorably as in the day, not in reveling and drunkenness, not in debauchery and licentiousness, not in quarreling and jealousy. ¹⁴Instead, put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.

Who Will Help Me Interpret the Bible?

Acts 8:27-31: Now there was an Ethiopian eunuch, a court official of the Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, in charge of her entire treasury. He had come to Jerusalem to worship ²⁸and was returning home; seated in his chariot, he was reading the prophet Isaiah. ²⁹Then the Spirit said to Philip, “Go over to this chariot and join it.” ³⁰So Philip ran up to it and heard him reading the prophet Isaiah. He asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?” ³¹He replied, “How can I, unless someone guides me?”

The library of books composing the Bible, with texts spanning thousands of years, can get complicated. Jumping right in with no one to help you can leave you feeling like the Ethiopian court official trying to understand the book of Isaiah. This is especially true if you are new to the faith, rather than someone who was raised in the church and become familiar with the Bible's contents through Sunday school, sermons, Bible studies, and more. Here are a few sources that will help.

To begin with, you might want to pick up a Bible paraphrase. This brings the Bible to you in an abbreviated format with language that is easily understood. This will give you a grounding in what the various authors of the Bible's 66 books are telling you.

From there you can take up a study Bibles. I have two: a New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) called the Annotated Study Bible and the New International Version (NIV) Archaeological Study Bible. (Don't worry about NRSV & NIV for now. Those are different translations and something to worry about much further down the road.) These will provide you with text at the beginning of each book setting the scene, telling you who was writing, who the audience was, when it was written, and under what circumstances. Notes throughout the text will help explain various passages. If you have a computer, you can try the GLO Study Bible, which includes many photos, encyclopedic references, and videos. It is a great browsing Bible.

Now, when you are deeply involved with your Bible, you can also call on Bible Commentaries for help. These are books that explain the passages of books of the Bible from a scholarly point of view. Using these is like having Phillip run up to you and ask "Do you understand what you are reading" and then sitting with you and explaining the passages in detail. You can find many good Bible commentaries in bookstores and online. You may find some very old Commentaries (scholars have been writing commentaries for thousands of years) online for free. Highly favored among these are Matthew Henry's commentaries (written in the early 1700s), which are lively and approachable. Good luck with your exploration of the Bible. Through the Bible God speaks to us most directly. I hope you have a wonderful encounter with God today!