Worship Preview 8.18.24 "Lion and Lamb"
This Sunday: 10:30am – “Lion and Lamb” Pastor Christopher Eshelman Preaching. Scriptures: Revelation 4:1-11; Revelation 5:1-14; and Isaiah 53
We started a deep dive into the Book of Revelation last week by looking at the beginning and the end of the text. Jesus is defined as the Alpha and the Omega – the beginning and the end – and we started to look at the way John of Patmos visions celebrate Christ’s victory over sin, death and evil and how the books timelines work, looking at the mythic story of the woman in labor and the dragon presented in Chapter 12. This is not a simple or simplistic prediction of future events, even as it repeatedly talks of what will “soon happen. John’s visions – like the book of Job or other apocalyptic texts such as Daniel 7-12, are about assurance of God’s ultimate victory. A story told for a people for whom all seems lost to encourage continued faithfulness.
This week we will go deeper into how Revelation reveals Christ’s victory, focusing on Chapters 4 and 5. The angel tells John to look at the Lion of Judah. Lions are a frequent religious symbol of light, power and protection in many cultures. It is no accident that the great theologian and storyteller C.S. Lewis uses a lion, Aslan, as the Christ figure in his great Narnia series and it is true, as Lewis says, that Aslan is not a “tame lion.” Significantly though, when John does look, what he sees is a Lamb which has been sacrificed, yet lives. As we focus on the imagery of these chapters, we will also refresh our memory of one of the great texts of the Easter season, the song of the suffering servant from Isaiah 53. One could certainly debate if this means I am “adding to” or “taking away from” the book. I think it is important to let Scripture help us understand Scripture and to recognize how John’s visions are not isolated from the stories and traditions of his tradition, but rather evoke them. As Michael Gorman writes in Reading Revelation Responsibly, this book “is not about the antichrist, but about the living Christ. It is not about a rapture out of this world, but about faithful discipleship in this world" and we do well to root ourselves in images and stories found in the rest of Scripture just as its author does.
Christ has already won the victory, and, through these texts, we are invited to anew to orient our lives towards what Christ - crucified and risen; the Word of God, the Lion of Judah, the Lamb of God, the Alpha and the Omega - says and does. To be doers of the word, not merely hearers. You are invited to join in worship filled with sacred imagination and hopeful assurance, as we gather at 10:30am each Sunday at 301 S National, 10:30am. Blessings on your journey.
Upcoming Events:
Wednesday, August 21st 5:30–6:30pm: Feeding Families in His Name resumes after a week of rest – this free meal is available to everyone without obligation. A “to-go” meal is distributed under the portico at 301 S. National. A reminder: Please do not block nearby driveways while waiting. Thank you. If you would like to support this ministry, you can make donations online at:
Aging Forward, Friday, August 23rd – Aging Forward exists to encourage fellowship and lifelong learning for retired adults, our programs are free and open to anyone who would like to attend. This month we begin with a field trip –We will gather at 1pm at the Lowen Milken Center for Unsung Heroes (1 S. Main) for a presentation from their staff then we will move back to First UMCs Fellowship Hall (3rd Street Entrance) at 2pm to hear from local author Tanya Glessner, who recently released “The Light You Bring.” and new Fort Scott Library staff member Jeniffer Gum-Fowler at 3pm!
No cost to attend. Refreshments provided.
Open to anyone interested. Bring a friend!
For more info visit: www.firstumcfortscott.org/AgingForward
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