Icons Point Us In A New Direction (The Gathering Worship)

Series Information

This series offers a shift in pace from our recent discipleship focus, inviting us to pause and look back at those who have walked the path of faith before us. We’ll trace the remarkable life of the Apostle Paul—a towering figure in the New Testament—and explore how his story connects to the lives of saints across history and within our own community.

In Christian spirituality, there’s an important difference between idols and icons. Idols demand our worship and draw our hope away from God. Icons, however, point beyond themselves—acting as signposts that guide us closer to Christ. Saints are not meant to be idolized, but rather to inspire and direct us as we grow in faith.

Paul understood this deeply. He told the church in Philippi:

“Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice.” (Philippians 4:9)

Paul invites us to learn from his life—not to copy it exactly, but to let it shape our own. His example is complex and multifaceted; he was “many things to many people.” As we reflect on his journey and the witness of other saints, we are reminded that God calls each of us to live faithfully in our own time and place.

Key Takeaways:

• Saints are icons that point us toward Christ, not idols that replace Him.

• We grow in discipleship by learning from faithful examples—biblical, historical, and local.

• Like Paul, we are called to live lives that inspire others to “put faith into practice.”

As we approach All Saints’ Sunday, may we be encouraged by those who have gone before us and challenged to become icons of faith ourselves—living lives that point others to Jesus.