What’s Going On? Power Series – January 4th, 2024

I have been thinking about and reflecting on power for the last few years. 

It started in earnest after I took a training day on how to avoid issues with abuse of power.  Part of the event was doing a rating of your own relational power.  As a white, male, educated, tall, wealthy, pastor, it became evident that in most situations I find myself in a position of assumed power.

At the same time, I have been studying and reflecting on church history and the power position the church has held since the Roman Emperor Constantine issued the Edict of Milan in 313 AD. This suddenly moved Christianity from an underground faith of persecuted people to a supported religion. In fact, quite quickly Christianity became the state sponsored or dominant religion.  I give you that piece of history to point out the connection between power and religion through most of the last 1700 years when it comes to Christianity in the West.  

All of this as background to the series we are starting this Sunday in which we will be looking at Power.  We start with the power of words and will also look at the power of money, resting, and prayer before wrapping up the series with a look at the power of weakness.

The goal of this series is to help us be aware of the power we have as well as the power around us.  We will be attentive to both good uses of power and the danger of power.

It is my prayer that we learn to discern how to use our God-given power in godly ways.

Pastor Erick Schuringa