Minister Florida

10/30/2026

Our Faith, Twenty Lessons
by Edward A. Horton

Lesson Six

I. THE TALK.

Now let us talk over what we ought to think and feel and do, since the Creator of all things is Eternal Goodness. And, first, I will bring you these words of Rev. W.C. Gannett, a poet and preacher. (Commit to Memory.)

From heart to heart, from creed to creed,

The hidden river runs.

It quickens all the ages down,

It binds the sires to sons, -

The stream of Faith, whose source is God,

Whose sound, the sound of prayer,

Whose meadows are the holy lives

Upspringing everywhere.

Worship.

To our heavenly Father worship is due because He is the source of all our blessings. Churches are built to express this feeling of reverence and piety. Worship means gratitude for life and for what life brings to us. Worship means acknowledgment of God, who is ready to hear our prayers and to help us in trouble.

True Worship.

We must go to church with the right spirit. The Bible says we must worship in spirit and in truth, in the beauty of holiness. Not what we say or sing is always the best, but what we feel in our hearts and truly think in our minds.

Obedience.

If we believe in the Fatherhood of God, then we must be dutiful and obey His laws. They are written on our bodies, in our souls, over the sky and earth. Good, wise men read them and tell us what they are.

In Scripture.

We find some of these laws or rules in the Bible. The Ten Commandments, the Beatitudes, the Golden Rule, and many other things are God’s rules for us to learn and obey. A true son or daughter obeys the reasonable wishes of the father. Much more ought we to do His will who is supremely great and wise.

To do this is, as Jesus said, life eternal.

All Life Divine.

The next thought is this: all life is divine. Let us explain the meaning of this by question and answer: -

QUESTION. How did the peoples long ago think of God and this world?

ANSWER. That He created the earth and went away to live elsewhere.

Q. What was the idea about this globe?

A. That the earth was flat and the sky full of holes to let light through.

Q. How do we think about these things now.

A. God is everywhere. He is in birds, flowers, skies, in all things.

Q. Is He with us all the time?

A. Yes. Never is He absent. He speaks in our conscience, and is nearer than we can think.

Thoughtfulness.

If we believe this seriously, then we are thoughtful and careful. We will be kind to animals; we will respect the small things; we will honor the faithful humble. God will be seen in all things.

Joy.

From the Fatherhood of God we receive joy. This is His world. We are under His orders. There is something for us to do, and He will help our honest, best plans. You are often told to have a purpose in life. But what good would a purpose be if we had no power but ourselves to carry it out?

What Paul said.

A man, long ago, started out to do a great work. He would have failed, had he not said over and over to himself, "I am a worker with God." It was Saint Paul, the zealous missionary. Nothing could discourage him, because he felt sure God was helping. That is joy.

Finding Truth.

One more, the fifth blessing from this belief in the Fatherhood of God: We are sure that we can know more and be more every year. And we feel sure that all people and the whole people will find truth. Then they become better, wiser, stronger.

Better.

The Father is ready to give new thoughts, new visions, new hopes to His children. But they must search, and find. They must knock on the closed doors, and they will open.

Q. What did Jesus say?

A. Do the will of the Father, and you will learn His doctrine.

Q. What does that mean?

A. Live as though you really believed in the Fatherhood of God, and you will grow wiser and happier every day.

II. HINTS TO TEACHERS.

Through the Thought Gate; steady, strong thoughts of God as a spiritual presence. By the Heart Gate; feelings of worship and reverence. His name not to be taken lightly. The Will Gate; emphasize doing. Show how religion always needs doers. Practical religion is not everything, but fruit should be found on fruit-bearing trees. Repeat this stanza from Rev. F.L. Hosmer’s poem,"The Larger Faith," and explain it to the pupils: -

And nobler yet shall duty grow,

And more shall worship be,

When Thou art found in all our life,

And all our life in Thee.

III. QUESTIONS FOR PUPILS.

What is our particular subject today?
Who wrote the lines beginning, "From heart to heart"?
Can you repeat the whole?
What does the poetry mean?
What is the first thing mentioned after the poem?
Why ought we to worship God?
How?
What are churches for, and can we worship anywhere else?
If God is good, then what is the second command?
What do we mean by "His laws"?
Is the world full of God?
How did people think long ago?
What did Paul say?
What can you remember about finding truth?

10/30/2026

Our Message for today, Sunday June 4, 2022

From - Jesus of Nazareth
by Charles Edwards Park 1909

XI. An Open Air Church.

Matthew V.-VII.; Luke VI. 20-49.

The discovery of this power was a great help to Jesus, because it enabled him to do so much practical good to the unfortunates who came to hear him. Before long every one in Capernaum was talking about the quiet, grave-eyed man who could cure some forms of sickness simply by the strength and calmness of his personal influence. People came eagerly, in great numbers, to see him, and hear him preach about the Messiah who was coming to establish the kingdom of God,

Jesus himself believed the Messiah might come almost any minute, and most devout Jews shared this expectation. Therefore, Jesus was all the more anxious to get people ready for him. To do this, they must be induced to repent of their old sins and live more cleanly and nobly, for it was only clean and noble men and women whom the Messiah would take into his kingdom. So Jesus preached constantly, urging everyone to better living; and the people came in such crowds to hear him that no one house could hold them all.

It was for this reason that one fine morning, when hundreds of people had assembled to listen, Jesus led the whole company out to a nearby hillside, where they all sat down around him on the soft grass, and had an outdoor church. Jesus sat in the center, and preached them a long, beautiful sermon. We may read the entire sermon in the Gospel of Matthew. It is called "The Sermon on the Mount," because Jesus preached it outdoors on this hillside. It told people how they must act and live to become worthy of the kingdom of God.

One striking thing about the sermon is that it is still true. It was preached nearly two thousand years ago, and the kingdom of God has not quite come yet, but the instructions in that sermon for entering that kingdom are just as true and just as important for us today as they were for the Galilean people to whom they were uttered almost two thousand years ago. The three chapters in Matthew rank among the most beautiful and most famous passages of the world’s literature. There are portions which everyone should know by heart, as, for instance, the first twelve verses of chapter v., and in chapter vi,, verses 5 to 15.

We may see in this sermon how fond Jesus was of nature, how observant he was of birds and flowers and grasses and rain storms. In all these things he seemed to see the workings of God’s just and loving spirit, and was glad and proud to feel himself a son of that great God who worked and breathed in the life and beauty around him.

What name is given to the passage in Matthew v. 1-12?
What is the appropriateness of this name?
What is a jot and a tittle?
What does "Raca" mean?
Can you find the Old Testament commandments, which Jesus quotes in verses 21, 33, 38, and 43 of chapter v.?
How does he improve upon these old commandments?
Reading Matthew vi. 2, do you suppose that the hypocrites really "sounded a trumpet" when they gave alms?
What do we call this way of talking?
What name is given to the passage in Matthew vi. 9-13?
Who was Solomon?
Can you describe a "lily of the field"?
What is a mote? And what is a beam?

10/30/2026

Over 17 years with the Progressive Christian Alliance.

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10/18/2026

From Services for Congregational Worship 1877
Edited by Rev. Daryl Taylor-Hazel

My voice shall you hear in the morning, O Lord: in the morning I will direct my prayer to you, and will look up.

From the rising of the sun to the going down of the same, the Lord's name is to be praised.

Let our prayers be set forth in his sight as incense, and the lifting up of our hands as an evening sacrifice.

O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together: for with him is the fountain of life, and in his light shall we see light.

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be always acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my strength and my redeemer.

Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

When the wicked man turns away from his wickedness that he has committed, and does that which is lawful and right, he shall save his soul alive.

Rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn to the Lord your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repents him of evil.

Exhortation

The Scripture moves us to acknowledge and confess our sins and wickedness; and that we should not dissemble nor cloak them before the face of Almighty God, our heavenly Father; but confess them with a lowly, penitent and obedient heart; to the end that we may obtain forgiveness of the same, by his infinite goodness and mercy.

And although we ought at all times humbly to acknowledge our sins before God; yet ought we chiefly so to do, when we assemble and meet together to render thanks for the great benefits that we have received at his hands, to set forth his most worthy praise, to hear his most holy word, and to ask those things which are requisite and necessary, as well for the body as the soul. I ask those present to accompany me with a pure heart and humble voice to the throne of the heavenly grace; saying with me: -

A Confession

To be said by the Minister and People.

Almighty and most merciful Father: we have erred and strayed from your ways like lost sheep. We have followed too much the devices and desires of our own hearts. We have offended against your holy laws. We have left undone those things which we ought to have done; and we have done those things which we ought not to have done. But you, O Lord, have mercy on us. Spare those, O God, who confess their faults. Restore those who are penitent, according to your promises declared to mankind in Christ Jesus our Lord. And grant, O most merciful Father, that we may hereafter live a godly, righteous, and sober life, to the glory of you holy name. Amen.

Then the Minister will say this Prayer

O Lord, we ask you mercifully to hear our prayers and spare all those who confess their sins to you: that they whose consciences by sin are accused, by your merciful pardon may be absolved. Amen.

The Lord's Prayer

To be said by the Minister and People.

Our Father who art in heaven, Hallowed by thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil: for thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen

O Lord, open our lips.

And our mouth shall show forth your praise..

Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God;

Be honor and glory, forever and ever.

Praise the Lord.

The Lords name be praised.

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