Newspaper Essay

I was asked to submit a 200 word essay on Ephesians 2:10 to a local newspaper for a segment they call "From the Pulpit". I tried my best, and thought I'd throw it up here for you all to read as well. This is one of the essential messages of my ministry, so you'll probably have heard it before.
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Why Do You Stutter?

No wonder Moses tried to decline God’s leadership offer. Moses, a fugitive of Egypt, is in the desert of Midian, shoeless, and standing in front of a burning bush. The most compelling argument that he comes up with is found in Exodus 4:10 “…Master… I stutter and stammer.” (The Message)

Moses lived during the height of Egyptian civilization. He was reared in Pharaoh’s house, trained in diplomacy, and likely educated in rhetoric. But when God asked him to live out his purpose he told God that he couldn’t because he stuttered.

We stutter when we hesitate. Moses’ past in Egypt made it hard for him to go back. We stutter when we get ahead of God. The future task of leading the exodus was daunting. But this was God’s purpose for Moses’ life.

God has a purpose for your life. When you are confronted by the work of God, do you stutter because of your past? Do you stutter because of what it might mean? God’s plan is prepared for each of us, and we are specially designed for His purpose. "For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." -- Ephesians 2:10 (NIV)

Why do you stutter?

Benjamin Rainey is the lead pastor of Severn River Church, a new church in the Severna Park area. Weekend services are held in the Florestano Building at Anne Arundel Community College, Sundays at 10:00 AM. For information please visit www.severnriverchurch.com, or read daily at www.benjaminrainey.com .