St. James UMC E-Weekly 03.29.2023

This Sunday

Matt will be sharing his message

"Shouting HIS Name!"

Based on:

Matthew 21:1-11

Dinner will start at 5:30, followed by a pastor-led bible study. At that time, the children and youth will break off into a group to worship and learn more about God's word.

Tonight:

The Church will be providing the dinners.

Breakfast Burritos

If you wish to bring a dessert to share, there is always room for more.

Next Week:

The Church will be providing the dinners.

Mexican Casserole

If you wish to bring a dessert to share, there is always room for more.

Are you enjoying the dinners on Wednesday nights? Please consider bringing a free-will donation to help offset the cost of the meal.

The righteous one, my servant, shall make many righteous. (v. 11)

“Am I a good person?” A high school friend asks me this question at least once a year. I wonder what my face looks like after she asks, because answering makes me so uncomfortable. I squirm in my seat and fidget as I think of what to say. What exactly is she looking for? Does she want to be justified, to know that the sum of her actions makes her a “righteous” person before God? And does she believe I am fit to provide an answer because I’m a seminary student?

A man asked Jesus, “Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?” Jesus replied, “Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good” (Matthew 19:16,17). If Jesus wasn’t willing to comment on who and what is “good,” why should we?

Nothing we do or can do makes us “righteous” before God. And as for being good, well, the world is full of “good” people who do bad things and “bad” people who do good things. “Goodness” is irrelevant. The Father embraces us as righteous, not by our works, but because of the righteousness of the suffering servant, Jesus Christ.

The next time my high school friend asks, I hope I have the courage to say this to her.

~Garret Szantner~