This Week's Scripture

Week of December 29

"Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God." (Romans 15:7)

Reflection

From Jonathan Morphett

Paul has prayed for the unity and harmony of the church in Rome.  In Romans 15:7, he is instructing them (and us) one more time to welcome each other as Christ has welcomed them.  Why? It is all to add to the glory of God in which we have the privilege and joy of participating as a Christian community.  So let us embrace and welcome each other’s differences, whether in strength of faith or beliefs or background or culture (or favorite service location), and continue adding to the glory of God.

Romans 15:1–7 concludes Paul's teaching on how Christians with strong faith, those who understand their freedom from the law, should live with those of weaker faith. All Christians must please each other and not themselves. After all, Christ didn't come to please Himself. With God's help and encouragement, everyone in the church can live together in harmony and glorify God with one, unified voice as they serve each other ahead of themselves. They must welcome each other as Christ has welcomed them.

The following is an excerpt from an article by Ken Weliever that I think is helpful.  He uses the NIV translation of Romans 15:7 which uses the word “accept” in place of “welcome.” The full article can be found here.

The word “accept” in this text means, “to take as one’s companion; to take by the hand and lead. To grant access to one’s heart; to take into friendship.

To accept our brother and sister in Christ is not just to begrudgingly put up with them. It is not just to belong to the same church, but having nothing to do with them. (Instead,)It is to welcome them,  to extend to them the right hand of fellowship; to extend to them all the prerogatives and privileges of every other member.

We accept our fellow brothers and sisters because Christ has accepted us. We’ve been welcomed into fellowship with the lord. We’ve been forgiven for our sins. We’ve been made an heir of salvation. We belong to the Lord by his grace and mercy. Thus, we should accept others.

Accepting one another is the mark of a healthy spiritual family. We all share a common faith, are joined by a common love, and sustained by a common hope. This understanding greatly aids in fostering unity in the Body of Christ.

Sometimes accepting one another is difficult and demanding, but it can be accomplished when we follow the dictates of Scripture in Romans 14 and 15:

Avoid passing judgment. (Romans 14:1-4)
Commit yourself to live for Christ. (Romans 15:5-12)
Control your attitudes and emotions with love. (Romans 14:13-18)
Edify everyone you can. (Romans 14:19-21)
Privately hold to your personal convictions. (Romans 14:22-23)
Treasure people like Jesus does. (Romans 15:1-3)

Invitation

How can you welcome others today with the same love and grace that Christ has shown you? How do you bring glory to God in your daily life?

This Week's Scripture

Week of December 22

"Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for 'God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.'” (1 Peter 5:5)

Reflection

From Bob Schwartz

Advent soon surrenders to Christmas. These final days of Advent give us the opportunity to enter Christmas showing the spiritual qualities that please God. Holiness and hope. Friendship and faith. Hospitality and humility.

Peter's words address humility and its archenemy: pride. Seeing too much pride and too little humility, Peter reminded young Christians to embrace humility in order to harmonize with God. He addressed a theme that Hebrew writers had considered for nearly a thousand years: "Pride goeth before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall" (Proverbs 16:18). Jesus Himself often warned against pride and instead famously blessed the meek, the merciful, and the pure in his Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:5-9).

I once attended a men's meeting where Christmas was the topic for discussion. I was eager to dig in because Christmas is my favorite time of the year. The man on my left shared that he hated Christmas with its gaudy lights and tacky decorations. The next man hated Christmas due to the stress of finding perfect gifts. The next man dreaded Christmas because he had to feign interest in relatives who visited. See the pattern? Christmas offended these men because they could not focus on themselves.

When my turn came, I shared that I loved Christmas because of its opportunity to relive Jesus's coming into this world through the various sights and sounds and smells of our traditions. Twinkling lights outside. Christmas trees. Homemade cookies and eggnog. Christmas dinner. Family and friends. Staying up late for Midnight Mass.

What I'd heard from the other men, though, helped me see something else in Christmas: Christian traditions during Advent and Christmas direct believers away from self toward others. We put up wreaths or lights to bring joy to the hearts of passersby. We forgo another necktie or cocktail so there’s money for gifts to make loved ones happy. We drop off toys at the Salvation Army or a Toys for Tots bin to help families we'll never even meet.

Christmas directs us out of and up from ourselves. It sends us back in time, then whizzes us right to the present moment. Always thinking of others. To the baby Jesus. To Mary and Joseph. To the little town of Bethlehem. To angels and shepherds. To the lives and needs of family, friends, and strangers. As surely as the dark of night gives way to daybreak, pride surrenders to humility. It is in just this posture of humility that God Himself can do His work in us.

Is it any wonder that so many people love Christmas? They are feeling the effects of God working in them, drawing them away from self and toward a right posture of humility toward others.

Prayer

Dear Lord, Heavenly Father, please send your angels and archangels to protect us from the forces calling us away from you. Please help us surrender the devices and desires of our own hearts. Please replace them with Jesus and with love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and humility. Please guide us into Christmas with clean hearts so we more fully experience your holy birth. Thank you, Father, and Merry Christmas!

Invitation

Will we choose faith, love, and charity? Forgiveness? Respect? Humility?

The final days of Advent offer the opportunity to answer the living question beneath all the others: Do we surrender to self, or do we surrender to Jesus Christ?  

Let me close by asking you the questions that I am asking myself: What specific ways can you show more humility toward others on a daily basis? Can you develop one habit of humility toward others this season?”

This Week's Scripture

Week of December 15

“Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” (Galatians 6:2)

Reflection

From Robbie Moore

I think that this call to bear one another’s burdens is a tremendously challenging way to live. Why? It requires us to step outside ourselves and our immediate and individual problems, and to see and do our best to feel the sufferings of our neighbor. It asks us to be exceedingly humble and empathetic, almost impossibly so at times, yet this is the example we see in Jesus time and time again. I think the parable of the Good Samaritan is one of the greatest examples of this type of love, where we see a Samaritan man sacrifice time, resources, and maybe even social status to care for his enemy. Similarly, Jesus always makes time for the person who is suffering and is always willing to walk alongside us in our pain.  

Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank you for giving us people to walk through life with. Help us to be there for each other, especially when times get hard. Show us how to share the load, offer support, and bring comfort to those who are struggling. Teach us to love like you do—with patience, compassion, and a heart that’s ready to help. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Invitation

Has someone ever helped you bear a burden?

In what specific ways can you help bear or share the burden of someone in your life?

This Week's Scripture

Week of December 8

"Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you." (Ephesians 4:32)

Reflection

From Henry Ambrose

Ephesians 4:32 is an easy verse to skim over, especially for teenagers who—largely—have been raised in the church. Even putting church aside, we are taught from a young age that being kind is simply the right thing to do. I think that the familiarity of this idea is the very reason we put so little priority on it. Paul, writing Ephesians, was addressing a fellow Christian community in Asia that had been fractured over disagreements concerning the Word of God. This advice, just to be kind, has the power to guide all of our decisions, especially in the world today. To us, I think that this verse should be a reminder to approach every interaction as Jesus would. It should challenge us to look at how we treat people, even when angry or frustrated. Am I showing grace and forgiveness, even in disagreement? In politics, relationships, or any time sides are taken, we as Christians should let kindness guide everything that we say, do, or think.

Prayer

God, help me to show kindness to others, regardless of how I’m feeling or how they’re behaving.

Invitation

Can you think of anyone who is consistently kind to others?

Does it sometimes feel as though being kind requires a lot of self-discipline?

What are ways we as the Church can show kindness in the world?

This Week's Scripture

Week of December 1

“But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.” (1 John 1:7, NIV)

Reflection

From the Friendship Commission of the Vestry: Elizabeth Cox, Jonathan Morphett, Breck Wheeler, and Laura Wright

1 John 1:7 reminds us that our relationships, especially friendships, are profoundly enriched when we pursue a life rooted in God’s light. Walking in the light together means choosing to live with honesty, love, and integrity—qualities that deepen our friendships and our faith. This verse reminds us that when we live this way, we’re connecting with God and with each other in ways that bring lasting value and meaning to our friendships.

To build these kinds of friendships, let’s make time for purposeful connections. Whether through coffee dates, lunches, walks, a round of golf, or small group gatherings, intentional time together allows us to listen deeply, share openly, and encourage one another. When we prioritize time together, we create a place for God’s light to shine in our friendships, making room for real conversations about our dreams, challenges, and even areas we’re struggling. None of us has to pretend to have it all together, because Jesus’s love purifies us and reminds us that we are accepted just as we are. This openness creates a friendship built on grace, where we can uplift one another and grow closer to God.

Our friendships can also be a place of gentle accountability, helping each other grow in faith and character. Let’s make a habit of checking in on each other’s goals—spiritual, personal, and even professional—and encouraging each other to stay true to who God calls us to be. We can set up regular “accountability coffee dates” or times to pray together, not out of judgment but out of a genuine desire to see each other thrive. This kind of intentional encouragement makes our friendships sources of strength and helps each of us grow in areas where we may feel weak or uncertain.

Walking in the light together also means being there for each other during both highs and lows. Our friendships become a refuge, a place to share burdens and celebrate victories. Let’s plan to be present in each other’s lives in tangible ways—showing up for big moments, supporting each other through tough seasons, and celebrating wins together. These gestures remind us of God’s love, helping us feel seen and supported even in the challenges.

Ultimately, our friendships become living examples of what it means to walk in God’s light. By sharing time, accountability, and encouragement, we reflect God’s love and grow closer to Him together. As we continue to meet, pray, and support one another, our friendships become more than bonds—they become journeys of faith that enrich our lives and strengthen our walk with God. Let’s commit to nurturing our friendships intentionally, making them sources of joy, growth, and light in each other’s lives.

Invitation

How can you create intentional time with your friends this week to deepen your connection through Christ? Consider planning a coffee date, lunch, walk, or sporting event where you can openly share, encourage, and pray for each other.

Do you have a servant’s heart? If so, consider inviting someone to volunteer with you in the church or community this week.