Acts 7:35–43, Friday, June 12, 사도행전 7:35-43, 6월12일 금요일

"이 모세가 광야에서 천사와 함께 있었으며 시내 산에서 말씀하시던 그분과 함께 있었고 또 살아 있는 말씀을 받아 우리에게 전하였습니다." (행 7:38, 새번역)

어제 대한민국이 월드컵 예선 첫승을 해냈습니다. 교회에서 응원하는 기쁨을 느끼게 하는 시간이었습니다. 모임을 위해 수고한 손길에 감사드리고, 역시나 축구는 함께 보면 더 즐겁고 행복한것 같습니다.

이웃분들도 오고, 아이들은 축구가 아닌 다른 재미로 신이 났는데, 그래도 결국 축구는 이겨야 신나는 것 같습니다.

오늘 본문은 스데반이 순교전에 전한 설교내용입니다. 구제를 위해 선택받은 집사중에 하나가 복음을 전하며 하나님의 방법에 대해서 이야기합니다. 하나님은 늘 새롭게 일하시고 그럴때마다 사람을 들어서 사용하신다는 것입니다. 모세가 그 새로운일에 도구이고, 예수님도 하나님이 우리를 구원하시기 위해 일하시는 새로운 모습으로 이땅에 오셨다는 것입니다.

하나님은 우리를 사랑하시는 것을 목적으로 최선을 다하십니다. 하나님의 열심이 우리의 생각보다 크고 놀랍다는 사실을 기억해야합니다.

축구를 보는 재미도 이겨서 재미도 나지만, 교회에 함께 모여서 마음을 둔다는 건 우리들의 삶을 일상에서 새로운 경험으로 초대한것 같았습니다. 오늘 하루 더울텐데, 함께하는 기쁨을 기대하시고, 곧 주일에 하나님을 예배하는데 열심을 내는 저와 여러분이 되기를 바랍니다.

묵상

하나님은 오늘도 여전히 우리를 사랑하시기 위해 열심을 내십니다. 우리도 예배에 열심을 냅시다

중보기도

1. 이번 Unity수련회는 열린교회가 총력을 다하는 수련회입니다. 위해서 기도해주세요. 담임목사도 가고, 청년들도 가고, 찬양인도도 맡아하고 그렇습니다.

2. 오클랜드빌딩 매각을 위해서 기도해주세요. 교회와 사택 야드관리를 찾고 있습니다. 기존의 해오던 분들이 못하신다고 해서 찾고 있어요.

"This is the Moses who was in the assembly in the wilderness, with the angel who spoke to him at Mount Sinai, and with our ancestors; and he received living words to pass on to us." (Acts 7:38)

Yesterday Korea won their first match in the World Cup qualifiers. Watching together at the church made it something more than a game — there was a real joy in the room. Thank you to everyone who worked to make that gathering happen. Soccer really is just better when you watch it together. Neighbors came, the kids were running around finding their own excitement — and in the end, winning made everything feel just right.

Today's passage is from Stephen's sermon, delivered just before his martyrdom. Stephen was one of the deacons chosen for the work of serving the poor — and here he is, standing before the Sanhedrin, preaching about how God works. His message is this: God is always doing something new, and every time he moves, he raises up a person to be his instrument. Moses was that person for one moment in history. Jesus is God doing something new again — coming into the world to bring salvation in a way no one had seen before.

God's purpose is our salvation, and he gives everything to it. The zeal God brings to loving us is greater and more surprising than we tend to think. That is worth sitting with.

Stephen is saying something the Sanhedrin didn't want to hear: that the pattern of Israel was to resist each new thing God did, to hold onto the familiar and reject the messenger. Moses was rejected. And now they are rejecting Jesus. The same pattern, repeating.

But the deeper word, for me this morning, is about God's relentless initiative. He keeps moving. He keeps raising people up. He keeps finding ways to reach us. The same God who sent Moses, who came in Jesus, is still at work today — still passionate about loving the people he made.

Watching the game together last night felt like a small invitation into something — ordinary life opened up into a shared moment. It was fun because we won, yes. But it was more than that. Coming together, putting our attention in the same place, laughing and cheering in the same room. I hope we bring that same energy into Sunday worship — that the same people who filled the church last night fill it again to meet God together.

Reflection

God is still giving everything today to love us. Let us give our everything to worship.

Intercessory Prayer

1. The Unity Retreat is a full church effort this time — the senior pastor is going, the young adults are going, and we are leading worship too. Please pray with everything you have.

2. Please pray for the sale of the Oakland building. We are also looking for someone to handle yard maintenance at the church, the parsonage, and the property — our previous crew is no longer available, so if you know anyone, please let us know.