Renewing the Great Commission

"Self-salvation is the goal of much of our preaching," according to United Methodist bishop William Willimon. Willimon perceives that much of contemporary preaching, whether mainline or evangelical, assumes that conversion is something that we generate through our own words and sacraments. "In this respect we are heirs of Charles G.Finney," who thought that conversion was not a miracle but a "purely philosophical [i.e., scientific] result of the right use of the constituted means.'"

Nevertheless, "The homiletical future, alas, lay with Finney rather than Edwards." "Alas," adds Willimon, "most 'evangellistic' preaching I know about is an effort to drag people even deeper into their subjectivity rather than an attempt to resuce them from it." Willimon observes that our real problem, whether we feel it or not, is that we systematically distort and ignore the truth. This is why we need "an external word." "So in a sense, we don't discover the gospel, it discovers us. ' You did not choose me but I chose you' (John 15:16)." Willimon conclues, "The story is euangelion, good news, because it is about grace. Yet it is also news because it is not common knowledge, not what nine out of ten average Americans already know. Gospel doesn't come naturally. It comes as Jesus."

- by Michael Horton

Prayer list for Meals@home

Here is the prayer list that as I commit to the Lord:

1. Direction and leadership - Lord I ask that you will appoint someone who can lead this group. Someone who has the heart and is available. Lord I seek for your direction in this and may your spirit stirs in the heart of the people involved. May there be a clear direction and plan on how to do things Your way.

2. Open hearts - Lord I ask for open hearts of the people. May there be Man of Peace. People who established contacts and groups within the people. May their hearts be open for us to communicate with them more. Also let there be ways that we can communicate to them and also bring the message across. Allow the gel-ing of hearts and that you are the God of hospitality.

3. Dreams fulfiled with platforms - Create more platforms for us to be present in their lives. Let love and concern be there. Let there be a community for how you had led the objective to be created. May they not just be words but actions to be done.

I pray and commit all the above prayer items into Your hands. You are the God soverign in all things. Your plans are higher than ours. Your vision is miles from what we could comprehend. I seek that you will give and grant us the wisdom.