October 15, 2021

Dear Road Church friends,

Barbara and I are in Forrest City, Iowa preparing a memorial service for her parents who passed away last year. The drive here was pleasant, and the forecast is for clear but cool days ahead. We thank you for your thoughts and prayers. Our thanks go out to Bob Elmer who will bring the message this Sunday. His theme and scripture text are listed below. Bob brings grace and wisdom to everything he does. You will be blessed and encouraged by his words.

SERMON TITLE:  Finding Your Ministry Brought to you this Sunday by Bob Elmer, Moderator of the Road Church

       SCRIPTURE:  James 2:14-26     What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but do not have works? Can faith save you? If a brother or sister is naked and lacks daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and eat your fill,” and yet you do not supply their bodily needs, what is the good of that? So faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead.  But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I by my works will show you my faith. You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder. Do you want to be shown, you senseless person, that faith apart from works is barren? Was not our ancestor Abraham justified by works when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was brought to completion by the works. Thus the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness,” and he was called the friend of God. You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. Likewise, was not Rahab the prostitute also justified by works when she welcomed the messengers and sent them out by another road? For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is also dead.

SERVICE

O Master let me walk with Thee in lowly paths of service free,

Tell me Thy secret, help me bear the strain of toil, the fret of care.

Help me the slow of heart to move by some clear winning word of love,

Teach me the wayward feet to stay, and guide them in the upward way.

Teach me Thy patience, still with Thee in closer deeper company,

In work that keeps faith sweet and strong, in trust that triumphs over wrong,

In hope that sends a shining ray far down the future’s broadening way,

In peace that only Thou canst give, with Thee, O Master let me live.

 Blessings to you all,

May the grace of Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you.

Pastor Norm