Sermons

Jesus calls us from our tombs of despair to unbind us and give us back to life. Giving Up for Lent: Week 5 John 11 Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=my_cn4c56BY

Giving Up for Lent: Week 4 Matthew 2:1-12 ; Proverbs 2:1-15 Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=arfnM2pH6vY

Jesus broke through all the categories by which humans quickly judge and divide each other. He rejected ethnicity, religion, gender, marital status and relationship history, education level, and social status as legitimate grounds for judgement or restricting God’s love and grace. Third Sunday of Lent James 4:11-12; John 4:5-42 Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KJKXOw6tbW4

Instead of assuming the worst, assume that God holds the future and therefore it will be filled with promise. Second Sunday of Lent Genesis 12:1-9; John 3:1-17 Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CuuXQ0NfZuo

Instead of idolizing self-determination, therefore, we have the power of mind through faith to see God as our greatest and most trustworthy ally, the one who genuinely wants us to thrive. First Sunday of Lent Genesis 2:15-17; 3:1-7; Matthew 4:1-11 Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_PS9qKutuTI

We still do this today. When we feel anxious, vulnerable, or alone, we make false gods for ourselves to make ourselves feel better. We cling to things we should not for security, and worship people and created things in the place of God. Ex. 24:15-18; 32: 1-6; Matt. 17:1-9 Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lzku__39Dl4

My hope is that you will recognize in at least one of these options the way that you are salty, and in so doing, will also appreciate more clearly what you must keep on doing, even if the powers that be and the persecutors of the world argue that you and the world should be salt-free. Lev. 2:11-13; Num. 18:8, 19; Matt. 5:13-16 Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cc2zhIDUnao

Jesus’ words would have shocked and confused his followers, who, like us, tended to believe that material prosperity and social power were signs of God’s favor. Was Jesus saying, “blessed are the losers” instead of “blessed are the winners”? And the answer is, yes, in a sense. “God does not esteem the powerful and mighty, or grant them special favors,” Jesus insisted. “God blesses the powerless, the suffering, and those who want justice and righteousness in the world more tha

This is the Gospel way: inclusion not exclusion, connection and caring, not separation and judgment. God has no interest in reinforcing the walls humans create to separate ourselves or make ourselves feel superior. Acts 8:26-40; Genesis 4:1-16 Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=70NGVMRHQCk

But you cannot make the sovereign creator of the whole universe and savior of humanity through Jesus Christ take these gifts back by threatening God with a hair dryer or hanging a certificate on your wall. In baptism God makes a promise to you with the hope you will acknowledge it with gratitude and service. But if you do not, that does not undo God’s promise, because it is not a conditional promise; it is a gift. Matthew 3:13-17; 2 Kings 5:1-19 Link: https://www.youtube.com