Receptive Soil: Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23
We are all at some point, or always, all of the different soils here in Matt 13. We are called to embrace the abundance of God's Word, recognizing the various conditions of the heart that can hinder receptivity, and to nurture the receptive soil within, allowing God's transformative power to take root and bear abundant fruit in our lives.
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- Jul 16, 2023Receptive Soil: Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23
Receptive Soil: Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23We are all at some point, or always, all of the different soils here in Matt 13. We are called to embrace the abundance of God's Word, recognizing the various conditions of the heart that can hinder receptivity, and to nurture the receptive soil within, allowing God's transformative power to take root and bear abundant fruit in our lives.
- Jul 9, 2023Restful Teachings: Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30
Restful Teachings: Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30Jesus offers us rest for our souls, rest that I’m sure we all desperately long for in our lives of business, infinite to-dos, and crowded schedules. And where should we find this rest? In the teachings of God. God's teachings provide rest by offering us guidance, wisdom, moral clarity, assurance, and transformation. They lead us into a deeper relationship with God, where we find true rest for our souls as we align ourselves with His truth and experience the abundant life He desires for us.
- Jul 2, 2023Receptive Discernment: Matthew 10:40-42
Receptive Discernment: Matthew 10:40-42This sermon aims to encourage the congregation to cultivate receptive hearts and discerning spirits in their relationship with God. It emphasizes the rewards associated with welcoming God's messengers and the importance of discerning truth from falsehood. By nurturing openness and discernment, we can better receive God's message and respond faithfully to His call. Ultimately, this sermon calls for a balanced approach, combining receptivity with discernment, as we strive to embrace and embody God's truth in our lives. This sermon aims to encourage the congregation to cultivate receptive hearts and discerning spirits in their relationship with God. It emphasizes the rewards associated with welcoming God's messengers and the importance of discerning truth from falsehood. By nurturing openness and discernment, we can better receive God's message and respond faithfully to His call. Ultimately, this sermon calls for a balanced approach, combining receptivity with discernment, as we strive to embrace and embody God's truth in our lives.
- Jun 25, 2023Costly Grace
Costly GraceMatt 10:24-39 This text can be problematic and disturbing, but nestled in verses 29-31 is the comforting reminder of God’s care for even the smallest creatures, assuring us of God’s watchful eye and provision. This demonstrates God’s faithfulness and highlights God’s role as a loving parent who looks after us children.
- Jun 18, 2023Bridging the Gap
Bridging the GapMatt 9:35-10:8 Who but Jesus could actually do what he is asking of the disciples and us? The work of God in the world often seems impossible for people to perform, yet we are entrusted with proclaiming the good news and working the harvest. We need to find “the faith to see that the gap between the real and the ideal can in fact be bridged. Jesus, at least, seems to think we can get the job done, even if it will not be easy” (Wimberly, FOW, 144).
- Jun 11, 2023Limited to Liberated
Limited to LiberatedMatt 9:9-13, 18-26 By extending his love and compassion to Matthew, the woman, and the girl, Jesus breaks societal barriers and demonstrates that no one is beyond the reach of God's grace. He offers them a new identity and a place in the kingdom of God, where their labels and conditions no longer define them. Jesus invites them into a realm where there is hope for change, acceptance, and a transformed life.
- Jun 4, 2023Doubt
DoubtMatt 28:16-20 In this great commission, doubt is overcome by presence. As the disciples gathered to worship, some doubted, and Jesus counters their doubt with a promise of authority and lasting presence. Doubt plagues us all, running the risk of making fools of all people of faith. However, “the LORD is with us, and all authority has been given to Christ,” and we are not fools, but a people of faith.
- May 28, 2023Drinking the Spirit
Drinking the SpiritActs 2:1-21 Peter plays on the accusation of those who claim the apostles are drunk by countering with the pouring out of the Spirit. Rather than drinking alcohol, the apostles are drinking of the Holy Spirit. This pairs well with another metaphor, eating the word of God (Jer 15:16; Ezek 2:8-3:3; Rev 10:8-11). We are a people who are nourished by eating God’s word and washing it down with the Holy Spirit.
- May 21, 2023Above All
Above AllEph 1:15-23 Without recounting the story, Paul speaks to the significance of Jesus’ ascension. Not only is Christ seated above all others and his name elevated above all names, but his ascension also marks Christ’s placement as head of the Church, the fullness of Jesus. The ascension of Jesus marks the headship of the Church. Therefore, as the Church acknowledges the ascension of Jesus, it also acknowledges the authority of Christ.
- May 14, 2023Salvation Story
Salvation Story1 Pet 3:13-22 Peter paints a vivid yet odd description of the passion of Christ in chapter 3. Given our history/tradition, we tend to focus on the verse about baptism, but a fuller reading of the passage unifies the death, burial, resurrection, and ascension as the one story of salvation. Understanding how these events that are typically understood in isolation work together as one helps us better understand our own relationship with God.
- May 7, 2023Living Stones
Living Stones1 Pet 2:2-10 We stand as monuments to the mighty acts of God, individually as living stones, and collectively as living stones assembled into this body of believers. We have been chosen by God as a holy people, built up to proclaim the marvelous light of God.
- Apr 30, 2023Christian Community
Christian Community"Christian Community" from Easter Season by Scott Brunner. Released: 2023.
- Apr 23, 2023New Life
New Life1 Pet 1:17-23 Peter contrasts the futile ways of the past with new life in Christ. One aspect of this contrast is knowing God through Torah v knowing God through Christ. Our access to God and our ability to know God has shifted from Torah to Jesus.
- Apr 16, 2023Living Hope
Living Hope1 Peter 1:3-9 Freedom from the fear of empire and death enables us to freely and boldly enter into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus.
- Apr 9, 2023Going Ahead
Going AheadMatt 28:1-10 It’s Easter, and like all Easters before we gather to celebrate the empty tomb. However, this year I notice Jesus’ comforting words about “going ahead” of us. As we follow Jesus, we go knowing that he is waiting for us wherever we are headed – preparing for our arrival, ready to receive and welcome us.
- Apr 2, 2023Your King is Coming: Matthew 21:1-11
Your King is Coming: Matthew 21:1-11This morning we heard the reading of Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem as well as the story of his trial and death so that we can combine both palms and passion. The resounding refrain for this liturgy is “your King is coming.” Are we prepared for Christ to break into our lives? Do our expectations match the reality of his coming? Do we expect a conqueror on a horse or a carpenter on a colt?
- Mar 26, 2023Spiritual Life: Rom 8:6-11
Spiritual Life: Rom 8:6-11Paul speaks of dwelling in the Spirit as a multi-directional relationship. As the Spirit dwells in us, we also dwell in the Spirit. To dwell is not to rest but to live, actively not passively. The Spirit lives in us, guiding us and directing us so that our living is formed by the living Spirit within us. As God’s Spirit lives in us, we live by and in God’s Spirit.
- Mar 24, 2023Chilren of Light
Chilren of Light“Everything that becomes visible is light,” so because Christ has shown his light upon us, making us visible before God, we now are also light. It is strange logic to us who talk about light differently; we would use the word reflect. God’s light shines on us, and we reflect it out into the world. Everything that God is and does is reflected and projected through our lives.
- Mar 19, 2023Children of Light: Eph 5:8-14
Children of Light: Eph 5:8-14“Everything that becomes visible is light,” so because Christ has shown his light upon us, making us visible before God, we now are also light. It is strange logic to us who talk about light differently; we would use the word reflect. God’s light shines on us, and we reflect it out into the world. Everything that God is and does is reflected and projected through our lives.
- Mar 12, 2023Boasting in God: Romans 5:1-11
Boasting in God: Romans 5:1-11Forgiveness is often the word most used to describe the effect of Jesus in the life of the believer, but of the many effects listed in Romans 5:1-11, the word is not found. Forgiveness is a part of life with Christ, but so is peace, reconciliation, the gift of the Spirit, justification, hope, love, and even sharing in the glory of God. This passage gives us far more to boast about than merely forgiveness. Forgiveness is often the word most used to describe the effect of Jesus in the life of the believer, but of the many effects listed in Romans 5:1-11, the word is not found. Forgiveness is a part of life with Christ, but so is peace, reconciliation, the gift of the Spirit, justification, hope, love, and even sharing in the glory of God. This passage gives us far more to boast about than merely forgiveness.
