NOTE FROM PASTOR J R FOR SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2022
This Sunday is the 4th Sunday in Kingdomtide. It is a bittersweet Sunday for me personally. Bitter, because it would be my brother Larry’s 71st birthday. Larry died in a trucking accident 21 months ago. I still miss my two “check-in” calls each week. Sweet, because it is my 22nd Anniversary as Pastor of Covenant. This Sunday is made even sweeter because the assigned gospel text includes John 3:16.
While arguably the best-known and best loved scripture in the Bible; I am among those who consider and believe it to be the greatest verse in all of scripture. I like the newer translations; but love when the term “WHOSOEVER” is read as part of this passage. That’s because “whosoever” was the term that made a radical difference in my life at a time when religious folks were saying I was not, nor could be, considered as “saved.”
This 25-word verse has been called the gospel in a nutshell. I found online this sermon in one verse captured as the following poem by an Unknown Author titled: “The Greatest Ever!”
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FOR GODSO LOVEDTHE WORLDTHAT (GOD) GAVE(GOD’S) ONLY BEGOTTEN SONTHAT WHOSOEVERBELIEVETHIN (JESUS)SHOULD NOT PERISHBUTHAVEEVERLASTING LIFE |
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the greatest giverthe greatest degreethe greatest companythe greatest sacrificethe greatest giftthe greatest opportunitythe greatest simplicitythe greatest attractionthe greatest promisethe greatest differencethe greatest certaintythe greatest possession |
This poem wraps up this cherished biblical text beautifully. However, verse 17 that follows this verse that makes the extravagant inclusion of “whosoever” universal in nature and gives life to the fact “Whosoever” means “Whosoever!”
Join us for worship this Sunday at Covenant on this, my 22nd Anniversary as Covenant’s Pastor, either in-person, by Zoom or on Facebook Livestream. I will be talking more in depth on John 3:16 and 17, in my sermon named “WHOSOEVER” means “WHOSOEVER!” It’s all based on John 3:13-17.
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