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"Sermon and sacrament. Strictly speaking, the sacraments are not themselves worship, any more than the sermon is worship. Sermon and sacrament are both manward rather than Godward in their direction. They set forth, the one audibly and the other visibly, the glory of God's grace in the salvation of sinners. Therefore, though not themselves acts of worship, they lead to worship -- the adoration of the God who once gave himself for his people and now gives himself to them today." From "Christ the Controversialist" by John R.W. Stott
The eye and the ear. Both Word and sacrament
bear witness to Christ. Both promise salvation
in Christ. Both quicken our faith in Christ.
Both enable us to feed on Christ in our hearts.
The major difference between them is that the
message of the one is directed to the eye, and
of the other to the ear. So the sacraments need
the Word to interpret them. The ministry of the
Word and sacrament is a single ministry, the
Word proclaiming, and the sacrament dramatizing,
God's promises. Yet the Word is primary, since
without it the sign becomes dark in meaning, if
not actually dumb. --- From "I Believe in
Preaching" by John R.W. Stott
We are part of the new North American Anglican Province & Common Cause + |
    
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Love the Lord your God with all your heart
and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your
strength. Love your neighbor as yourself. |
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