This morning I preached at Advent Lutheran Church in Arlington, Texas for the first time on the occasion of my first day serving as this congregation’s Interim Senior Pastor.
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The Sermon
My message, “Intention or Interruption?,” was based on today’s Gospel reading: Mark 5:21-43.
Love in Action
While I relied on this manuscript, I’m aware that I went a bit off script on a few occasions. You can watch a recording of the livestream here (the Gospel lesson begins at 25:32 and the message at 29:17).
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Excerpt
I stand before you this morning as a newcomer. Your knowledge of who I am may be limited to the contents of a one-page bio that introduces me as your Interim Pastor. So I’ll begin with a confession and a personal story.
Good morning, my name is Pastor Greg and I am a planner. I like to know where I’m going and how I’m going to get there. I not only have a schedule, but expect to follow it. I enter each new day with a plan and with intention.
Knowing this, I invite you to travel back in time with me across several decades back to the time when we didn’t carry phones in our pockets – when we navigated by memory or map not GPS. One ordinary morning in that world I was planning to drive from Arlington to Fort Worth to lead an all-day training session. And everything went according to plan until it didn’t. Due to my proximity to a major wreck on the highway, I ended up stuck on the road for several hours . . .
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So What?
Take a few minutes to reflect on your own life and your experience of the life of faith. Focus on interruptions – both planned and unplanned.
- How has God shown up in your life during seasons or moments when your plans were interrupted?
- In what way(s)s have these interruptions been opportunities for growth?
- In what way(s) did these interruptions refine or reinforce your original intention or path?