August 1, 2021

Tenth Sunday after Pentecost

Scripture

(taken from "The Message, the Bible in Contemporary Language")

 

Ephesians 6:18-20

In the same way, prayer is essential in this ongoing warfare. Pray hard and long. Pray for your brothers and sisters. Keep your eyes open. Keep each other’s spirits up so that no one falls behind or drops out. And don’t forget to pray for me. Pray that I’ll know what to say and have the courage to say it at the right time, telling the mystery to one and all, the Message that I, jailbird preacher that I am, am responsible for getting out.

 

Matthew 10:28-31

“Don’t be bluffed into silence by the threats of bullies. There’s nothing they can do to your soul, your core being. Save your fear for God, who holds your entire life—body and soul—in his hands.  What’s the price of a pet canary?  Some loose change, right?  And God cares what happens to it even more than you do.  He pays even greater attention to you, down to the last detail—even numbering the hairs on your head!  So don’t be intimidated by all this bully talk. You’re worth more than a million canaries.”