Pastor John Wright

Thomas Aquinas wrote, "we cannot know the essence of God in this life as it is in itself but we know it to the extent that it is represented in creaturely perfections." Of course the greatest creaturely perfection for Aquinas is Jesus Christ, truly human and truly divine. As we participate in Him as we find Him within the Scriptures, we come to know God and witness to this God through Jesus in the witness of the church.

This is why idolatry, not atheism is our biggest struggle. Even atheism has a "god" -- the totality of the universe (or parallel universes) that comprises a "whole" or a "whole of wholes". The true God, the God who is Life, has come to us in Jesus. To begin with Ezekiel, move to the John 17, and then end up in 1 Peter may be instructive for us.

Ezekiel 39:21-29

Why does disaster come upon the people of God? Why does God seek the restoration of Jacob? What is the function of the renewed, purified people of God? What is the function of the Spirit?

John 17:1-11

Glory is a term that is in the area of Beauty -- the weightiness of an experience. What is the relationship between Jesus' and the Father's glory? What has been the Son's task that he has completed?

Why does Jesus pray for us, his disciples? What is the relationship between the disciples and the world? What is the difference between them?

1 Peter 4:12-19

Why shouldn't we be surprised at "the fiery ordeal" in which we as believers live? Why should we rejoice in suffering? What type of suffering? What is the difference between suffering and suffering as a Christian? How does one deal with the shame for suffering as a Christian?

What is the relationship between the three passages? What is the witness of the people of God here? How do we experience this witness and suffering in our lives, particularly as those involved at Mid-City? How do we explain our witness to those outside the congregation and pull the "nations" into God's salvation here?

Have a wonderful evening.