Sunday Worship at Iglesia Las Esquinas

Post by Bob)

Reflections on Sunday worship:

A dirt road no wider than a car.
Modest humble cinder block houses, most with dirt floors.
Bustling activity-dogs barking, roosters crowing, children laughing and running, ladies cooking.
The church (iglesia) is spartan--cement stage, cement floor, metal roof, plastic chairs to sit in.
Men on one side of church, women on other side.
The sound system set up--it works!
Pastor Aburto opens in prayer and singing.
He prays that the sound system will be used abundantly to spread God's Word.
If not, it will be noisy gong or clanging cymbal.
Pastor Aburto reads Matthew 7:7-20.
Concepts to focus on:
Seek the Lord, The Lord is generous,
The way is narrow, Avoid the wide path,
Be fruit inspectors, We are known by our fruit.
Pastor William called up to preach.
(Pastor William prays for Christ Church and the Daleys as Ambassadors of Christ Church and Jesus Christ)
Sermon text:  Mark 2:1-12 (Jesus heals the Paralytic)
The Paralytic needed the help of four friends to carrying him to Jesus.
He needed a team to carry him.
His friends had to overcome a number of obstacles.
His friends had to be persistant.
His friends had to be precise (in lowering him through the roof).
His friends had to love him more than they cared about what people thought.
His friends had to have faith that Jesus could "heal."
When Jesus saw the faith of the four friends, He forgave the Paralytic's sins.
The real illness we need to healed of is sin.
The scribes were angry (Jesus was a threat to them!)
Jesus tells them that He had authority to forgive sins!
Only then does Jesus tell the Paralytic to rise.

Service closes in prayer and song.

Everyone exchanges the Peace of Christ with hand shakes and hugs.

Time to go back for a big meal and to rest.

The last night of the Crusade will be tonight.