Sermon: Why we have to forgive to be forgiven
Jesus famously taught his followers to pray "forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sinned against us". In saying this (and many other things), he connected the forgiveness we receive from God with the forgiveness we give other people.
Here's a link to Sunday's sermon where we explored this theme, but from a different passage. Matthew 18 Sermon.
Here are some other thoughts from Sunday morning.
* great to open the morning service with a little saxophone.
* loved Valerie's children's story. great execution.
* wish there was some way to create a better "atmosphere" in the morning. sometimes it just feels like a school auditorium (which it is)
* really enjoyed Alex's presentation about the ministry of Rahab. how does a angry young woman go from prostitute in patpong to a community leader in her own village saving other people's children from the fate she endured? (look back here later in the week when I tell the story)
* gonna miss Harold. wish he weren't moving back to the US.
* thanks to Becky for organizing a lunch out with friends.
Some highlights from Sunday evening.
* loving the guitar Paul bought. The 500 baht special!!! :)
* great to have a five person strong worship team. Mark, Siri, Beatrice, Pamela and Paul did a great job!
* what happened to my "holy friends" who missed morning, came in the evening, but walked in with 5 minutes left in the service and then left after chatting for only a few minutes!? (sorry inside joke)
* looking forward to seeing what God does over the next three months in the evening worship. I think something fun is going on....
* superior street food after church again! last week the cook at the stall had been featured in gourmet magazine recenty, this week the food stall had menus IN ENGLISH! I guess that's one indication that our Sunday night worship is in a touristy area. :(
A couple of other random thoughts
* it is slightly uncomfortable to invite people to church with you, but Christianity isn't about comfort.
* Easter is the best and easiest time of year to invite a friend to church. Christians who don't go to church are especially open. Non-Christians (esp in Buddhist Thailand) who are curious about Christianity and what Christians do in church are open... and if they come on Easter they get a whole worship service focused on the most central piece of what Christianity is all about!
* please, please, please think and pray about who you will be inviting to church with you this Easter. and then pray pray pray that we would have off the hook Easter services, that God's presence would be felt by all and that everyone who comes would love Jesus more as a result!
Over and out from Monday morning in Bangkok.
Here's a link to Sunday's sermon where we explored this theme, but from a different passage. Matthew 18 Sermon.
Here are some other thoughts from Sunday morning.
* great to open the morning service with a little saxophone.
* loved Valerie's children's story. great execution.
* wish there was some way to create a better "atmosphere" in the morning. sometimes it just feels like a school auditorium (which it is)
* really enjoyed Alex's presentation about the ministry of Rahab. how does a angry young woman go from prostitute in patpong to a community leader in her own village saving other people's children from the fate she endured? (look back here later in the week when I tell the story)
* gonna miss Harold. wish he weren't moving back to the US.
* thanks to Becky for organizing a lunch out with friends.
Some highlights from Sunday evening.
* loving the guitar Paul bought. The 500 baht special!!! :)
* great to have a five person strong worship team. Mark, Siri, Beatrice, Pamela and Paul did a great job!
* what happened to my "holy friends" who missed morning, came in the evening, but walked in with 5 minutes left in the service and then left after chatting for only a few minutes!? (sorry inside joke)
* looking forward to seeing what God does over the next three months in the evening worship. I think something fun is going on....
* superior street food after church again! last week the cook at the stall had been featured in gourmet magazine recenty, this week the food stall had menus IN ENGLISH! I guess that's one indication that our Sunday night worship is in a touristy area. :(
A couple of other random thoughts
* it is slightly uncomfortable to invite people to church with you, but Christianity isn't about comfort.
* Easter is the best and easiest time of year to invite a friend to church. Christians who don't go to church are especially open. Non-Christians (esp in Buddhist Thailand) who are curious about Christianity and what Christians do in church are open... and if they come on Easter they get a whole worship service focused on the most central piece of what Christianity is all about!
* please, please, please think and pray about who you will be inviting to church with you this Easter. and then pray pray pray that we would have off the hook Easter services, that God's presence would be felt by all and that everyone who comes would love Jesus more as a result!
Over and out from Monday morning in Bangkok.
