Muskoka Lakes Ministry of Knox, Port Carling & Zion, Torrance
Sunday Sept 13, 2020
Sermon Series: The Ministry of Jesus
Message: Bring the Gospel to the People
Reverend Glynis Faith (705-765-3797) (muskokalakesministry@gmail.com)
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Announcements
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Lectio Divina Thursday evenings at 8pm via Zoom. If you would like to take part contact Rev. Faith to receive a Zoom invitation.
If you would like a ‘socially distant’ visit from the minister, please call or email to set up a day and time.
Joint Session meeting Tuesday Sept 15, 2pm at Zion, Torrance in the Sonshine Room.
Knox Board of Managers meeting Tuesday Sept 15, 7pm at Knox, Port Carling in the Sunday School room.

DONATIONS TO KNOX, PORT CARLING
Mail cheques to Knox Presbyterian Church Box 283, Port Carling, ON, P0B 1J0
E-Transfers to KnoxChurchPC@gmail.com No security question required
Pick up ~ Please call the office (705) 765-3797 to arrange pick up

DONATIONS TO ZION, TORRANCE
Mail cheques to Zion Presbyterian Church 1046 Torrance Rd, Torrance, ON, P0C 1M0
E-Transfers to zionchurchpc@gmail.com No security question required
Pick up ~ Please call the office (705) 765 3797 to arrange pick up
Thank you for your continued support!
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Scripture
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Matthew 4:18-24
18 As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. 19 “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” 20 At once they left their nets and followed him.
21 Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, preparing their nets. Jesus called them, 22 and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.
23 Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people. 24 News about him spread all over Syria, and people brought to him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering severe pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed; and he healed them.
Mark 1:35-38
35 Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. 36 Simon and his companions went to look for him, 37 and when they found him, they exclaimed: “Everyone is looking for you!”
38 Jesus replied, “Let us go somewhere else—to the nearby villages—so I can preach there also. That is why I have come.”
Luke 17:11-14
11 Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. 12 As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy[a] met him. They stood at a distance 13 and called out in a loud voice, “Jesus, Master, have pity on us!”
14 When he saw them, he said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were cleansed.

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Message
“Bring the Gospel to the People”
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As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he called out to Peter, Andrew, James and John – and those He called out to joined Him in His ministry.
Jesus proclaimed the Good News as He travelled throughout the region of Galilee.
Throughout His travels, Jesus rose early and went out to a solitary place to pray. This prepared Him – grounded Him – as He went from village to village preaching.
And from our final reading, as Jesus was on His way to Jerusalem He responded to people in need with a word of healing.
Notice the movements of Jesus as he shares the Good News – the Kingdom of heaven is near. He shares God’s love with the Jews and with the Gentiles – he travels from village to village talking with men and women and blessing children – he climbs mountains – preaches from a fishing boat – walks on water – travels along the shores of the Sea of Galilee /// Jesus goes into the synagogues – into peoples homes – down into valleys and through the city gates.
I encourage you to open up one of the Gospels this week and observe how Jesus utilized everyday opportunities to conduct His ministry. Walking – praying – eating – teaching – reclining // from one situation to another Jesus shone the love of God for people to see. His ministry was not 9-5 or 8-4. It was not restricted to within the four walls of a building. His ministry was dependant on nothing more than His willingness to follow God’s will and serve.
I don’t know about you, but Covid has given me cause to reflect on ministry and how we are called to serve and share the Gospel of Jesus. We often view ministry as something that happens at church, within the church structure – Sunday worship service – Sunday School – coffee hour - youth group – mission groups – social groups and the many other ministries each church conducts. Some may even consider ministry to be the job of the minister. But often our images of ministry are visualized from the context of inside the church.
The closure of our buildings should be cause for us to question this line of thought and focus on Jesus, our perfect example of ministry.
Please don’t hear me wrong, there is a need and a purpose behind the church structures. Jesus frequently went into the synagogues to teach and we are called to gather in community regularly. The apostles founded churches, especially the Apostle Paul. The church buildings are an important part of our ministry, but are we fully being the church – are we living our ministry if we limit ourselves to a ministry within a building?
With our doors locked, I am reminded that Jesus went into the synagogue and then He went out and ministered to the people. If Jesus had waited for John and Andrew and Peter and James to get out of the fishing boats and come talk to Him in the synagogue, the Gospels would be shy 4 apostles.
Imagine how different the Gospel accounts would read if the Good News was shared only one hour, one day a week from within the synagogue!
- The lepers would never have received healing, because they were not permitted near other people.
- The Gentiles would be excluded
- And what about the five thousand who came to hear the Good News or the four thousand? Would they have come to the synagogue?
- How many healings would not have occurred if Jesus had only healed those who came into the building?
Jesus lived the ministry He was called to, sharing the Good News – the kingdom of God is near, and calling all who would be part of this kingdom to join in its ministry. Jesus brought the Gospel to the people and He calls us to do the same.
Again, I encourage you to pick one Gospel and read it through, paying attention to the ways Jesus brings hope and healing to the people. Then prayerfully consider how you might follow in His footsteps – how we, as the church, might follow in Christ’s footsteps.
What opportunities do we have to share the love of God in our homes, in our neighbourhoods, when we take the boat out with friends or take a walk along the lake?
Covid forced us to close the doors of the church buildings, but it has certainly not forced us to stop being the church – Friends, let us follow in the footsteps of Jesus, and lets take the Gospel to the people.
May God bless us as we do! AMEN