Jesus, on the night before he died, took the ancient Jewish Passover meal and transformed it with new meaning and significance. Through the sacrament of Holy Communion we are united to Christ, united to one another, and spiritually strengthened to live our our faith in the world.
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The Weary World Rejoices!
When things feel hopeless, we need a source of hope. I don’t mean simply saying, “I wish things were better.” Rather, we need something that makes us say “things will be better.” We can find this hope in something that has happened which points to something that will happen. One night, more than 2,000 years ago, hope entered the world in the form of a baby.
View SermonGod’s Favor
When a new president chooses his cabinet members, he has to consider the experience of the candidate, their reputation in the political community, their background and any scandal that might result from their selection, and the likelihood that Congress will confirm their appointment! This is now how God chose King David, nor is it how he chose Mary to be the mother of his Son Jesus.
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Hope for the Hopeless
Situations that seem bleak are often just around the corner from the glory of God. As two disciples walk along the road to Emmaus, they had heard rumors of the Resurrection, but they weren’t convinced and they felt confused and hopeless. Jesus reveals himself through the Scriptures and the breaking of bread to open their eyes to his glory. In the midst of our hopelessness, we can trust that God will never leave us or forsake us.
View SermonHope, Peace, and Joy
“Hope,” “Peace,” and “Joy:” this time of year we see these words written everywhere: yard decorations, television commercials, wrapping paper, and Christmas cards. These words make us feel good, like a warm blanket and a steaming peppermint latte, but what do they really mean? Imagine for a moment receiving a gift in beautiful packaging, but when you open it there is nothing inside. The words “Hope, Peace, and Joy” can be like that. We hear them, and they make us smile, but a few moments later it is as if they meant nothing. These words can also be some of the best gifts you have ever received, which fill the deepest needs and desires of your heart. Ultimately, it is your choice.
View SermonThe Crucified King
As Americans, we don’t have much of an appreciation for the role of a King. In fact, you might say that the roots of our nations are decidedly anti-king. Our constitution was set up with a system of checks and balances to make sure that no one person could hold all the power at one time. We have a right to be afraid of earthly kings, but Jesus is a king that will never fail us. His rule is just and perfect, he always has our best interests and the best interests of his kingdom in mind. And one day he will make right all that is broken in this world.
View SermonLetting Go of our Creations
Once when my son was about three years old he had spent about an hour building an incredible duplo block creation. His little sister crawled over and began to pull at his buildings. He exploded with anger and frustration. When I mentioned that it was time for lunch and therefore clean up time which meant taking his building down and putting it away he was beside himself with anger and rage. I sat on the floor with my son trying to help him understand that God desires for us to give ourselves to work and creativity, and to also let go of that which we create. It is so tempting in this life to cling to physical things we can see, touch, and experience. God longs to give us a godly perspective of our life. If we come to him we will have right thinking in regards to the way we invest ourselves.
View SermonIn My Flesh I Shall See God
There is meaning in our suffering. When we suffer and continue to trust God, it gives us an opportunity to rely on God for the strength to make it through. It gives us an opportunity to identify with the suffering of Christ himself. There is work yet to do. There are people who rely on you, but even more important than that, you are the image of God in this world. There are people whom God has uniquely positioned you to reach, both by your words and examples. There are people who may not make it safely home to God without your influence in their lives. Remember, “he is not the God of the dead, but of the living” (luke 20:38). He wants us to live for him now, and we all look forward to seeing God, in our flesh, face to face.
View SermonSaints Today with Hope for Tomorrow
If you golf, you may have golf heroes. Woodworkers have woodworking heroes. Cooks have cooking heroes. As Christians, we have Christian heroes that we call “saints.” The point is not that Saints are so much holier than us and therefore must be much closer to God. All Saints were also sinners. Not perfect. The point is that they give us real, concrete examples of what it looks like to live out the Christian faith.
View SermonFollowing Christ to Serve Those in Need
We are uniquely and wonderfully made in the image of our loving God! We are called into relationship that our lives may be more perfectly transformed by the life of Christ, our Savior. In the parable of the beggar Lazarus and the rich man, Jesus is leading us in the way of God’s love toward those in need. In God’s love for us, Christ gave himself as the undeserved favor for those in need, to grant that which is outside of our power: life, salvation, grace, and mercy. We are called to follow in the way of Christ, in love and consideration of others, from the bounty of God’s blessing and endless resource.
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