Last week we saw how, Jesus “withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place”[1] upon hearing that Herod state that Jesus must be John the Baptist raised from the dead. [2] Then, from his deep compassion for the crowds, Jesus gave up his plan to be alone and instead healed …
I want to begin this morning by asking you to think about someone you love, a friend, family member, co-worker, what have you…. Now think about why you love that person. If someone were to ask you what was so special about this person, what would you say? What attributes …
I’ve gotten lucky these past few weeks since both parables we’ve covered have included Jesus’ interpretation of them. This week, however, we’re going to look at five short parables—some only a sentence or two long—and since Jesus only comments upon one of them, we’re going to have to work at …
Last week we considered various types of soil and saw how good soil, or believers respond to the Gospel message; bad soil, or those who reject the Gospel do not respond to this message for a variety of reasons. This week we’re going to consider a different metaphor for believers …
It took us a while, but Ron and I finally got around to planting our vegetable garden a few weeks ago. We got lucky. Since we buy young vegetable plants rather than growing our veggies from seeds we’ve planted ourselves, by the time we got around to doing so, the …
There are times when we read Scripture and it can feel so foreign to us given the stark differences between a particular biblical setting or custom and our own. But there are times when we read Scripture and it can feel so contemporary and timeless. And when this happens it’s …
Teach God’s Word—Proclaim the good news of the coming of the Kingdom of heaven—Care for those who are sick. Last week we considered this positive side of being Jesus Christ’s disciples, of being like him by teaching as he taught; testifying as he testified about the good news of God’s …
This morning we’re going to begin a series, that will take us well into the Fall, highlighting different portions of the Gospel of Matthew. And we’re going to kick off by settling, once and for all (as indicated in the sermon title): How to Share the Gospel! This is such …
Last week, on Ascension Sunday, we stopped to ask why Jesus Christ’s ascension is deemed to be so important that it is included in the summary of the Christian faith provided in the Apostles’ Creed. In essence the answer is that God’s plan of salvation cannot be completed apart from …
This morning, as we do every Sunday, we recited the Apostles Creed, reminding ourselves of the key tenets of the Christian faith. When it comes to Jesus Christ, the second member of the Trinity, each week we confess that we believe: “in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who …
