Sermons by David Scarpino

No Man Is An Island

NO MAN IS AN ISLAND

In 1624 a man named John Donne wrote a poem it goes like this: No man is an island entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main; if a clod be washed away by the sea, Europe is the less, as well as if a promontory were, as well as any manner of thy friends or of thine own were; any man’s death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind. And therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee. 

This is speaking about community, our dependence on God, and our responsibility to others. There are several lessons that we can learn from this. In this lesson I’d like to speak on the subject beginning with the understanding that – we were created to have connection with God and with one another. That God never designed us to live in isolation. Consider what God said in the beginning, “It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him.” – Genesis 2:18…

Open the Eyes of My Understanding

Paul wrote the Epistle to the Ephesians around A.D. 60–62 during his first Roman imprisonment. As one of the “Prison Epistles,” most believe it was written while he was under house arrest in Rome. Often cited alongside Colossians and Philemon as part of this period. Paul wants these saints to realize that they are the recipients of the many greatest blessings in Christ. Verse 18… He wants the “eyes of their understanding to be enlightened” When Paul said, “that you may know” he is saying I want you to have a tangible, touchable, experiential knowledge.

Spiritual Balance

SPIRITUAL BALANCE
ECCLESIASTES 8
Solomon speaks to the wise person who obeys the king because of oaths made before God. Did you know there is a limitation to human knowledge and ability? Though the wise understands some of the timing of things, no one can control the future, the wind, or the timing of their own death. There is a certain unfairness as the teacher teaches us that that wicked people are often praised and righteous people are soon forgotten. 
Enjoying life such as eating, drinking, and being merry—is a gift from God sa we live out our days. God’s Work is incomprehensible to the mind of man even the wisest people are incapable of fully comprehending the ways of God “under the sun”. 

As believers know, life is not fair, but we are encouraged to accept that good and bad happen to everyone which enables us to focus on what we can control: Living wisely and enjoying the present and surrendering control by trusting God for what cannot be understood.