March 8, 2024

Dear Road Church Friends,

The most familiar and best loved verse of scripture in the Bible is John 3:16. John paired it with one of the least known and misunderstood, Numbers 21:9. We are left wondering what do these two verses have in common that is so important? As it turns out, quite a lot. Gather with us Sunday morning to learn what that might be.

SERMON TITLE: Born from Above

SCRIPTURE READINGS

Numbers 21:5-9

The children of Israel grew impatient on their wilderness journey, and began to complain to Moses. “Why have you brought us out of Egypt to die in this barren desert?” We hate this horrible manna!” So, the Lord sent poisonous snakes among the people, and many were bitten and died. Then they went out to Moses, “We are sorry for what we said. Please pray that God will take away these snakes.” So Moses prayed for the people. Then the Lord told him, “Make an image of a poisonous snake wrapped around a pole. All who are bitten will live if they simply look at it!” So Moses did what God said, and from then on anyone who was bitten by a snake could look at the bronze snake and be healed!

John 3:14-16

And as Moses lifted up the bronze snake in the wilderness, so must I be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in me will have eternal life. For God so loved the world that he gave his only son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

LOVE IS THE MOTHER OF EVERY VIRTUE

Justice without love is cruel legalism.

Faith without love is ideology.

Hope without love is self centeredness.

Forgiveness without love is self abasement.

Fortitude without love is recklessness.

Generosity without love is extravagance.

Care without love is mere duty.

Fidelity without love is servitude.

Every virtue is an expression of love.

No virtue is really a virtue unless it is permeated, or informed by love.

by Richard Rohr

Blessings to you all,

Pastor Norm

This service on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/live/U3hJL6vyMWU?si=VZjUM9okLtLrSsf0