July 29, 2023

Dear Road Church Friends,

Many of Jesus’ most intriguing parables are 35 words or less. They are like tiny multifaceted gems whose beauty is multi-splendored. I’m thinking of two in particular: one about the treasure hid in a field, stumbled upon by a man out for a morning walk; and the other about a pearl merchant searching for pearls to sell, who found a pearl so beautiful he sold everything he had to buy it for himself. After 2000 years the spiritual secrets hidden inside these little literary treasures are still fascinating. They will be the subject of Sunday’s sermon. Both ask: “What do you deem so valuable, beautiful, or wonderful that you would be willing to sell everything you have to possess it?”

SERMON: What Is Your Pearl? 

SCRIPTURE:  Matthew 13:44-46 and 51-52 

The Kingdom of Heaven is like a treasure that a man discovered hidden in a field. In his excitement, he hid it again and sold everything he owned to get enough money to buy the field. Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a merchant on the lookout for choice pearls. When he discovered a pearl of great value, he sold everything he owned and bought it!

Do you understand all these things?” “Yes,” they said, “we do.” Then he added, “Every teacher of religious law who becomes a disciple in the Kingdom of Heaven is like a homeowner who brings from his storeroom new gems of truth as well as old.

KINDNESS TO ANIMALS

Anonymous

Little children, never give pain to things that feel and live;

Let the gentle robin come for the crumbs you save at home;

As his food you throw along, he’ll repay you with a song.

Never hurt the timid hare peeping from her green grass lair,

Let her come and sport and play on the lawn at close of day.

The little lark goes soaring high to the bright windows of the sky,

Singing as if ‘twere always spring, and fluttering on an untired wing—

Oh! let him sing his happy song, nor do these gentle creatures wrong.

Blessings to you all,

Pastor Norm

This worship service on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/live/VxuNRSoCYqQ?feature=share