Ocala First Connection

Matthew 5:1-12 Jesus saw the crowds, he sat down, and then he began to speak and taught them : Most English Bibles use “blessed,” at the start of each verse and some contemporary translations use “happy.”  Yet neither is good enough.  It doesn’t capture what the original Greek is saying.  The Greek is closer to “being on track,” or “going in the right direction.” Being blessed means you aren’t lost—you’re on the path God intends you to be on . Being blessed means you’re heading in the right direction and sharing in the life of God.  And, in Greek, sin means being off-track, missing the mark. If we’re poor in spirit, we’re not lost . We’re on track and following Jesus when we embrace our utter dependence on God—meaning we are aware that we can’t save ourselves, we stand in need of God’s help and mercy always, and we must trust God rather than fear, which keeps us from great acts of love. If we mourn, we’re not lost .  We’re on track and following Jesus when we when we let o

Each of us has a calling, or a vocation, to follow Jesus.  It’s part of our baptism. But how do we know what our vocation to follow Jesus looks like—in our own unique lives?  We are one-of-a-kind human beings.  Each one of us has a rich variety and combination of gifts and skills.  Each one of us has our own unique experiences and stories.  And there are countless ways to live out the way of Jesus.  How do we know which way is ours? Vocation—how we follow Jesus—equals location—where Jesus is in our lives.   This is the message of our gospel reading (John 1:29-42).  Jesus has been baptized by John and is now on the move for his public life of teaching and healing.  He is beginning to attract and gather followers.  When two of John the Baptist’s disciples begin trailing after Jesus, he turns and asks them a question: What are you looking for?   They, in turn, ask a question of their own:  Rabbi, Teacher, where are you staying?   They are not evading Jesus’ question

Join us for worship this Sunday at 9:00 am or 11:00 a.m.! The bulletin is below.  A few announcements to highlight: 1 - We are actively seeking a new Kitchen Manager/Chef.  Please get the word out to any caterers and food service folks you know who might be interested (or know others who are).  2 - Sign up now for YOUR church directory photo session. SIGN UP ONLINE NOW! 3 - Join our youth on Monday, January 16 for Community Service Day!