Saint Matthew, Apostle and Evangelist: An Anglican Perspective
Christ calls before Matthew follows. Christ gives before Matthew proclaims. The Church likewise cannot generate faithfulness from within herself.
Do You Begrudge My Generosity? (Matthew 20:1-16)
Last week the problem was receiving mercy and refusing to extend it. This week the problem is receiving grace and then resenting God when he gives grace to somebody else. We are comfortable with grace until grace interferes with our accounting.
Guard the Flock, Finish the Course: Saturday of Autumn Embertide (Acts 20:24-35)
The final word is not our endurance. The final word is grace. Paul received his ministry from the Lord Jesus, testified to the Gospel of grace, and then entrusted the Church to God and the word of his grace.
To Equip the Saints: Friday of Autumn Embertide (Ephesians 4:11-16)
On Wednesday we learned that the Church is not ours. Today we learn what Christ intends his servants to do within the Church that belongs to him: not replace the saints, but equip them; not gather the Body around themselves, but help the whole Body grow into Christ.
Servants, Not Owners: Wednesday of Autumn Embertide (1 Corinthians 3:5-11)
Paul planted. Apollos watered. God gave the growth. We are God’s fellow workers. The field is God’s. The building is God’s. The gifts are God’s. The Church is God’s. And the foundation is Jesus Christ.
When I Am Lifted Up: Holy Cross Day (John 12:31-36a)
Holy Cross Day brings us back to the center of the Christian life. The Cross tells the truth about our sin, but an even greater truth about the mercy of God. It exposes the rebellion of the world and announces the defeat of its ruler.