Pastor’s Page | June 25th, 2026
Sermon Prep (Read Ezekiel 18)
In my opinion, it is one of the worst stories in the whole of the bible (and there are some bad ones). It seems so unfair to me. In 2 Samuel 21, during the reign of King David, Israel had suffered a severe famine. When King David asked why this was happening, God revealed that the famine was connected to King Saul's earlier attempt to destroy the Gibeonites, a people whom Israel had sworn to protect. Saul had messed up, and so David sought to make it right. He went to the Gibeonites and asked them what he could do to make it right. You would think they would say, “Sure…give us a dozen donkeys, some gold, and maybe a Texas Roadhouse gift card and we will call it even”, but that is not what they asked for. Instead, they asked for seven of Saul’s descendants to be handed over to them so they could be executed because of Saul's actions. And David agreed! These descendants were being punished for Saul’s crimes. (It is important to note that God did not demand this, this was all between David and the Gibeonites). This just seems so unfair, and it is.
We have our own version of this, don’t we? We recently watched the movie “Stand By Me” again (great movie!) and there is a scene where the character played by River Phoenix breaks down in tears telling about why he feels trapped by his reputation. When he was younger, he found some milk money that had been collected at the school and he turned it in to a teacher rather than keeping it. He expected to be praised for doing the right thing. Instead, the teacher secretly kept the money for herself and later told Chris that no money had ever been turned in. Because Chris came from a family known for troublemaking and petty crime, no one believed him when he tried to tell the truth. The adults automatically assumed that he had stolen the money himself. As Chris tells the story, the hurt isn't just about the money—it's about realizing that even when he tried to do the right thing, he was judged by his family's reputation and dismissed as a "bad kid."
In Ezekiel 18, there are two sides to this, a positive and a negative. On the negative side, there are people who are trying to say that God was being unfair and that they are being punished for what their ancestors had done. They were deemed guilty because of the sins of their fathers. Yet, God reveals to them that this is not the case. God was judging them for their own actions. True, their father’s actions had a huge impact on them, but they were not being held accountable for their ancestor’s actions, just what they themselves have done. And here is the positive side, God reveals that people are not trapped by their past. Even if your dad was the worst lowdown rotten drunkard, you don’t have to be. You can rise above your upbringing to become the person God wants you to be.
As you read through Ezekiel 18, I want you to focus on what aspects of your family tree you have felt trapped by and which ones you have been liberated from? Also, notice not only how God holds the individual accountable for their actions, but notice what God does not delight in. How does this differ from the image many have of God? What does God desire instead? Also, as you read this, think of the impact our family heritage does play on our behavior. How many generations will feel the impact of a poor choice by a parent? Also, think about what excuses we make and how we blame our upbringing for our behavior. At what point do we take responsibility for our own actions? We will look at all of these and more this upcoming Sunday.
June Sermon Series
Crazy Times and a Steady God:
We Smell Like Sheep and Wolves
06/28 - Owning Up To Your Choices - Ezekiel 18
07/05 - Guest Speaker
07/12 - Owning Up To Your Responsibilities - Ezekiel 33
07/19 - Owning Up To Your Duties - Ezekiel 34
Updates, Thoughts and More
Acton Celebrates America is going to be bigger and better then ever this year. We are celebrating the 250th birthday of America and it is going to be a celebration at Acton Methodist! We have some postcards for you to pass out to your friends and family. Please pick them up in the Lobby and pass them to as many people as you can.
Many of you are going on vacation during the summer months. If you watch us online, make sure that you leave a comment letting us know where you are watching us from. It is always fun to see where everybody is vacationing.
Do you know someone who would like a visit from the pastor? If so, please call the office and let’s get one scheduled. I love getting out and visiting people. And just to let you know, you don’t have to have anything wrong for the pastor to come by and visit. 😊
I have finished my latest Brad Thor book, and it was an amazing book. It followed so much of the political landscape of today. His books are always ones that you can’t put down. I think I will be jumping back into my Jack Reacher novels. There is something so comforting about reading a book where a good guy punches the bad guys.
I heard one commentator say that Kentucky may be this years Indiana in college football. We have a new coach with lots of new players. I don’t think we will win the championship, but I do like the direction we are going. It is going to be a fun year in college football.
What’s Going On This Week
Sunday (06/28)
Worship Services — 9:00am & 10:30am
Monday (06/29)
Alzheimer’s Support Group — 10am
Stitching Angels — 1:30pm
Tuesday (06/30)
Men’s Prayer Breakfast — 7:30am
Chris Schoppe in Piano Recital — 7:00pm
Wednesday (7/01)
Prayer Warriors — 9:00am
Sip And Share — 10:00am
Youth and Kids — 5pm
Choir — 7:00pm
Thursday (07/02)
ACTON CELEBRATES AMERICA — 7:00pm
Joke of the Week
By the time Bobby arrived, the football game had already started. “Why are you so late?” asked his friend. “I couldn’t decide between going to church and going to the football game. So I tossed a coin,” said Bobby. “But that shouldn’t have taken too long.” said the friend. “Well, I had to toss it 35 times.”
Memory Verse of the Week
Do I take any pleasure in the death of the wicked? declares the Sovereign LORD. Rather, am I not pleased when they turn from their ways and live?
~Ezekiel 18:23 (NIV84)
Quote of the Week
“In Hebrew idiom that is expressed as God ‘visiting the sins of the parents upon the children to the third and fourth generation’. This does not mean that God deliberately and arbitrarily punishes children for sins they have not committed. It does mean that human beings are not isolated in their actions, but inevitably involve others and especially their family, in the consequences of their sin.”
~ — Christopher Wright
