Sunday, July 17, 2021 Sermon Notes: "The Post-Pandemic Church" Rev. Chip Hunter

Ezekiel 37:1-10 NIV 1 The hand of the Lord was on me, and he brought me out by the Spirit of the Lord and set me in the middle of a valley; it was full of bones. 2 He led me back and forth among them, and I saw a great many bones on the floor of the valley, bones that were very dry. 3 He asked me, “Son of man, can these bones live?” I said, “Sovereign Lord, you alone know.” 4 Then he said to me, “Prophesy to these bones and say to them, ‘Dry bones, hear the word of the Lord! 5 This is what the Sovereign Lord says to these bones: I will make breath enter you, and you will come to life. 6 I will attach tendons to you and make flesh come upon you and cover you with skin; I will put breath in you, and you will come to life. Then you will know that I am the Lord.’ ” 7 So I prophesied as I was commanded. And as I was prophesying, there was a noise, a rattling sound, and the bones came together, bone to bone. 8 I looked, and tendons and flesh appeared on them and skin covered them, but there was no breath in them. 9 Then he said to me, “Prophesy to the breath; prophesy, son of man, and say to it, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Come, breath, from the four winds and breathe into these slain, that they may live.’ ” 10 So I prophesied as he commanded me, and breath entered them; they came to life and stood up on their feet—a vast army.

BLESSING May the Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Love of God the Father, and the Fellowship of the Holy Spirit - go with you now and always. AMEN.

DAILY SCRIPTURE READINGS Week of July 19-24 MONDAY --Psalm 33:1-6 TUESDAY -- Job 33:1-4 WEDNESDAY -- Joel 2:28-29 THURSDAY -- John 20:19-23 FRIDAY -- Acts 1:7-11 SATURDAY -- 2 Timothy 3:16-17

“BREATH PRAYERS” FOR THIS WEEK: Breathe in. Breathe out. Did you know that something as simple as breathing draws us closer to God? The ancient practice of breath prayer ties a short, rhythmic prayer to our breathing. It's simple, and a meaningful way to practice the presence of God. Here a a few sample “Breath Prayers” to get you started: “Father God” (inhale) “Thank You for loving me.“ (Exhale) “Creator/Sustainer (inhale) “I praise You for the beauty of Creation” (exhale) “Lord Jesus Christ (inhale) “Have mercy on me.” (exhale) “Mighty Counselor” (inhale) “Remind me that I am not alone.” (Exhale) “Lover of my Soul” (inhale) “Heal my heart and restore my soul.” (Exhale) Holy Spirit of God” (inhale) “Breath new life into us.” (exhale)

OBSERVATION (“What?”) What is one thing that I observed in the passage?

IMPLICATION (“So What?”) What does that mean for me and my life?

APPLICATION (“Now What?”) What am I going to do about it?