Hi everyone,

Today in my sermon I talked about the band trip that I helped with last week, and how tiring it was to be part of a team to watch over like 60 kids. After the service, someone mentioned to me how their class was like 60+ kids… with just one teacher…

And I think that speaks to good order. We don’t often think about that in our everyday life, but I think it’s needed not just in keeping a large group of kids together (and mostly alive), but in how we interact and live with others in our communities, cities, and country.

Like we need good order in our work place with codes of conduct and policies. We need good order in our schools so the learning and instruction could happen. We need good order on our roads or people would be driving into each other and inanimate objects. Without good order, the world would be chaos.

Unfortunately, things like entitlement, self-importance, and a lack of discipline can sometimes get in the way. We sometimes need to be reminded that we need and should respect, trust, and have faith in the authority of that good order. This isn’t about rules and regulations (or the enforcement of them), but it’s about acknowledging the importance of good order and how it allows us to live together in peace and harmony. Good order isn’t just good for the order, but it’s good for all.

And I believe that God wants that for us, for God is good.

Here are the readings for next week:
Genesis 1:1—2:4a
Psalm 8
2 Corinthians 13:11-13
Matthew 28:16-20
and a video of them being read:

Next week is Holy Trinity Sunday, and the very nature of the Trinity (as we understand at least) is about good order. Not that there is a hierarchy, but there is a mutuality, a commonality, and also a respect in the relationship that helps us to see how we can live with each other.

In creation, there is good order in what role each aspect of this earth plays in conjunction with other aspects.
In community, there is good order in how we ought to treat each other and be treated.
In church, there is good order in who we are and whose we are for world.

Again, it isn’t about strictly following the rules that are set before us. But it’s about seeing how the good order is good for us, and how it can guide us to better be God’s people for the sake of the world. And so let us, as God’s people, respect the authority of heaven and earth that has been given to Jesus, to follow, to be led, and to contribute to this good order in which we have been placed, and allow the Spirit to move in and through us in joining us together as the one body of Christ.

Thanks be to God! Have a great week!