Words, values, ways: what sustains and what deceives
Greed and gossip, on the one hand, and fundamental trust, certainty of faith, and testimony: these are the themes of the five Sunday services in August. Here is a preview.
Fatal desire
There is nothing wrong with having desires and aspiring to fulfil them. But that quickly changes if this is done at the expense of someone else. Those who exploit weaknesses, trick others, or exploit the living space of present or future generations are distancing themselves from the love of God. And greed also destroys the soul of the person who falls victim to it, resulting in dissatisfaction, envy, insatiability, and inner turmoil.
The divine service on 3 August 2025 will explore what we can do already at a very early stage to fight such tendencies in ourselves, based on the well-known Bible passage Exodus 20: 17. And a closer look at the Ninth and Tenth Commandments sheds light on who awakens which cravings.
The impact of language
Words can act like weapons. It is not for nothing that the Eighth Commandment exhorts us: “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbour” (Exodus 20: 16). Even though this commandment was originally intended to protect the defendant from false testimony, Jesus’ words on the subject shed a critical light on this for our own lives.
And it is not just about spreading slanderous or false statements, but also simply about saying something about a person and evaluating him or her. The divine service on 10 August 2025 explains through which of the three sieves the spoken word should pass and who created this tool.
With all our might
Sometimes the destination of our dreams is inhabited by giants. And then we do not dare to go any further. This was not only the case for the people of Israel when they had reached the border of Canaan. But there is a fundamental element with which we can overcome walls and walk through valleys.
We can make a conscious decision in favour of this fundamental element. All we must do is think about a few things beforehand. The divine service on 17 August 2025 will explain what this is and what this fundamental strength is called, based on Numbers 14: 8.
Journey. Direction. Rescue.
Sometimes life is a wild journey. Lucky are those who have a compass with them. But you must also use it. The Bible—read as Holy Scripture and not as a world fact book—offers orientation on the path that takes us ever closer to God: there is comfort, encouragement, and there are warnings along the way.
In order to really be able to unearth this treasure, there are a few conditions. The divine service on 24 August 2025 will focus on Holy Scripture based on the Bible passage from Luke 1: 1–2.
Showing what you’re made of
Not everyone can believe. Faith is a gift from God. Gratitude for this gift prompts us to openly show how happy we are about it. Such testimony begins with baptism of water and the Spirit, is reiterated by attending divine services, and culminates in regularly partaking of Holy Communion: “For as often as you … you proclaim.”
But there are even more ways to show conviction. The divine service on 31 August 2025 will explore what this has to do with Lydia, the woman who was known to sell purple cloth and who was probably the first rector of a house church. The sermon will be based on Acts 16: 14–15
Photo: Mi Lu – stock.adobe.com