BENEDICTION: Five-Minute Friday

“Bene” Has Meaning

What kind of tumor is a “good” tumor? One that is benign. The word “benign” originates from the Latin word “benignus,” which means “kind” or “good.” This Latin term is composed of two parts: “bene,” meaning “well” or “good,” and “genus,” meaning “born” or “kind.” If I have to have a tumor, I want it to be good.

Several words we use begin with the “good” prefix “bene.” There is beneficial, benefactor, benevolent, benefit, and our word for this week, benediction. We know that diction is related to speech and because “bene” means good, benediction is a blessing. It is a prayer for divine favor. When I preach, as I am this morning in the absence of our lead pastor, the service will conclude with a benediction. But it is really a prayer we all pray for each other, because I end by saying, “and all the people say amen.” And many, if not all, say “amen.”

Our church administrative assistant always sends me an email when I preach so that she can prepare the morning slides. The question is: “What would you like put in for the Benediction this week?”

The Benediction

This week my answer was: “Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.” Ephesians 3:20-21

Notice that what we need in our lives as a blessing from God is His power at work within us. And because of his saving grace, the benefits of this working have forever and ever implications. In the end all the glory is his and it is revealed in the church and in the finished work of his Son Jesus.

If you are interested in listening to me preach, you can find our sermon resources at this link. My wife Cindie is the one who read the sermon text last week.

Memorial Baptist Church Sermons

Last Sunday’s sermon (our lead pastor is in Egypt, so I was in the pulpit last Sunday too) was “Jesus’s Love is Better — Therefore…” The main idea from the text in Hebrews 13:1-6 was “Jesus’s better love changes who I am, what I am, what I value, and my worldview.”

If you want to listen and see me and the sermon slides, the link you can use is:

Video of Sermon Jesus’s Love is Better — Therefore…”