August 18, 2023

Dear Road Church Friends,

Sunday’s Gospel reading is about the Canaanite widow whose daughter was deathly ill. She made a desperate search for Jesus who was visiting her country that was located on the coast north of Galilee. Upon finding him she made a heart-rending plea that he heal her daughter. She saw him as her only hope, so she persisted in her pleading. He saw her as a foreigner and her problem as none of his concern because she was not Jewish. It was just as simple as that. Then he saw her “great faith” and suddenly nothing else mattered. There was no Jew, no Gentile, no male, no female, no slave, no free. Her faith was no different than the faith of his own people. Now he understood we are all God’s wayward children who need the gospel. More about this on Sunday.

SCRIPTURE: Matthew 15:21-28    SERMON TITLE: Opening the Gates of Grace

Jesus went to the territory near the cities of Tyre and Sidon. A Canaanite woman who lived in that region came to him saying, “Son of David! Have mercy on me. My daughter is suffering terribly.” But Jesus ignored her. After a while his disciples came and told him to send her away, saying: “this woman won’t leave us alone. She keeps pleading for us to heal her daughter.” So Jesus went to her and said, “God has sent me to help the people of Israel and no one else.” Hearing this, the woman cried and fell at his feet. “Help me, sir! Please help.” “I can’t help you,” he said. “It isn't right to take the children's food and feed it to the dogs.” “That's true sir, but even the dogs get to eat the leftovers that fall from their masters' table.” Jesus thought for a moment and said, “I will do what you want me to do. You are a woman of great faith!”

   HE GIVETH MORE  

by Annie Johnson Flint

He giveth more grace when the burdens grow greater,

He senseth more strength when the labors increase,

To added affliction, he addeth mercy,

To multiplied trials, His multiplied peace.

When we have exhausted our store of endurance,

When our strength has failed err the day is half done,

When we reach the end of our hoarded resources,

Our Father’s full giving is only begun.

His love has no limit, His grace has no measure,

His power no boundary known unto men,

For out of His infinite riches in Jesus

He giveth and giveth and giveth again.

Blessings to you all,

Pastor Norm

This service on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/live/uveZG8u6u04?feature=share