July 13, 2009

Texts:
Exodus 37-38
Romans 3

Exodus:
What if the Stewardship and Finance Committee came to you when they were planning the budget and said, "we need some solid gold lampstands and new robes for the pastor that are made out of finest linen, woven with 24 karat gold, purple and scarlet threads. The hooks for the mini-blinds need to be silver and we need to buy some bronze door knobs."

How would that go over?
Where do you think the Israelites got all of that money? Even if you don't know the conversions, it is apparent that a LOT of shekels were spent. One commentator estimated 3.75 tons of silver and 2.5 tons of bronze.
On what is our congregation willing to spend our shekels? On what should we spend our shekels?

Romans:
In this chapter of Paul's carefully crafted argument, he shows that the Old Testament is NOT invalid because of Christ. Judaism the tradition in which Paul grew up and should still be respected. But (you knew there was a "but"), if you subject yourself to the Law, you are under the judgment of the Law. For "all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God" (3:23).
Keep with Paul. He takes the entire book to build his argument, and we do him a dis-service if we try to pull out just a few verses.