July 7, 2024 SEND WITH POWERS
When I recollect how God called me into the ministry. I struggled with the call for a long time. I went back and forth in my mind. It was not an easy decision that we as a family made to accept the call. The thing is, we must come to a point where we either embrace the call of God or we turn our back on Him. God is like a coach. We can either embrace the training schedule he has for us, or we can forget Him and walk away. We sometimes want only the blessings of God without the discipline that goes along with it.
The first thing that comes to my mind is the call of God has power. When we submit to God’s will we have power from him. We can see God’s power exercised in our life. It is unmistakable. We can conquer strongholds with God’s power. What are the strongholds we face? What impossible obstacles lay in our way in accomplishing the will and call of God in our life? Have we ever seen God move in a supernatural way in our life? One thing is clear, God calls us. Others recognize the call of God in our lives. The call of God has power.
The question for us today is God calling you to do something? God may be calling you to deepen your broken relationship with Him. God may be calling you for greater service for Him. God’s call on our lives is as real today as it ever has been. Listen to God. Our choice is clear. Either we can listen to His call for us, or we can turn our back on Him. We can have the assurance that we are following the call of God in our life.
From the gospel reading for this Sunday, St. Mark 6:1-13, Jesus is teaching his disciples how to do the work of God's ministry. Jesus is saying, you have watched me preach. You have seen me do healings. You have observed me driving out demons. You have watched me love people that have never been loved before. You have seen me do the things that a servant of God would normally do. Now it’s time for YOU to do it! It’s time for YOU to get some experience!"
First, he gives them a model for the ministry. In verse six we read that "Jesus went around teaching from village to village." What is very important to note is that Jesus leads them by example? Before he tells the disciples to go out there and do the work of the ministry, he was out there doing it first! Jesus didn’t hide up in heaven and tell us what to do from a distance. He came down here and SHOWED us what to do! And notice that Jesus doesn’t wait around for the villagers to come to Him. He left Nazareth and went to them! I think there’s a lesson here
In Christian circles, we talk a lot about getting people to come to our church. But we don’t talk enough about getting our church to go to the people. That’s what Jesus is talking about here! He does not say, "Wait in the sanctuary, and pray for people to come in and fill the pews." He is saying, "I want the people in the pews to go to them!" I am convinced that most of the ministry that God calls us to do is outside the church. It happens when we reach out with God’s word to the people in our own neighborhood. When we teach our kids right from wrong. When we discuss Bible stories around the dinner table. When we reach out in Christian friendship to coworkers that God has placed in our lives. Reaching out with the love of God beyond the walls of the church building. That’s our model for ministry.
The second thing that Jesus gives us is Companionship for ministry. In verse 7, we read "Calling the Twelve to him, he sent them out two by two." It was customary in both Jewish and Greek culture to send messengers in groups of two. The bottom line is that God never intended you and I to do the work of the ministry by ourselves. We need help! We need encouragement! I pity the person who thinks they can do God’s work all by themselves. Because when they fail miserably, there will be no one there to console them. No one to help them up. Before you try anything new for the Lord, I want you to pray to God that he will send someone who will pray for you and work with you and love you. Don’t try to do everything by yourself. We must get some help. If you would like to learn more about God's call please join us in our Sunday worship at 11:00 AM.
When I recollect how God called me into the ministry. I struggled with the call for a long time. I went back and forth in my mind. It was not an easy decision that we as a family made to accept the call. The thing is, we must come to a point where we either embrace the call of God or we turn our back on Him. God is like a coach. We can either embrace the training schedule he has for us, or we can forget Him and walk away. We sometimes want only the blessings of God without the discipline that goes along with it.
The first thing that comes to my mind is the call of God has power. When we submit to God’s will we have power from him. We can see God’s power exercised in our life. It is unmistakable. We can conquer strongholds with God’s power. What are the strongholds we face? What impossible obstacles lay in our way in accomplishing the will and call of God in our life? Have we ever seen God move in a supernatural way in our life? One thing is clear, God calls us. Others recognize the call of God in our lives. The call of God has power.
The question for us today is God calling you to do something? God may be calling you to deepen your broken relationship with Him. God may be calling you for greater service for Him. God’s call on our lives is as real today as it ever has been. Listen to God. Our choice is clear. Either we can listen to His call for us, or we can turn our back on Him. We can have the assurance that we are following the call of God in our life.
From the gospel reading for this Sunday, St. Mark 6:1-13, Jesus is teaching his disciples how to do the work of God's ministry. Jesus is saying, you have watched me preach. You have seen me do healings. You have observed me driving out demons. You have watched me love people that have never been loved before. You have seen me do the things that a servant of God would normally do. Now it’s time for YOU to do it! It’s time for YOU to get some experience!"
First, he gives them a model for the ministry. In verse six we read that "Jesus went around teaching from village to village." What is very important to note is that Jesus leads them by example? Before he tells the disciples to go out there and do the work of the ministry, he was out there doing it first! Jesus didn’t hide up in heaven and tell us what to do from a distance. He came down here and SHOWED us what to do! And notice that Jesus doesn’t wait around for the villagers to come to Him. He left Nazareth and went to them! I think there’s a lesson here
In Christian circles, we talk a lot about getting people to come to our church. But we don’t talk enough about getting our church to go to the people. That’s what Jesus is talking about here! He does not say, "Wait in the sanctuary, and pray for people to come in and fill the pews." He is saying, "I want the people in the pews to go to them!" I am convinced that most of the ministry that God calls us to do is outside the church. It happens when we reach out with God’s word to the people in our own neighborhood. When we teach our kids right from wrong. When we discuss Bible stories around the dinner table. When we reach out in Christian friendship to coworkers that God has placed in our lives. Reaching out with the love of God beyond the walls of the church building. That’s our model for ministry.
The second thing that Jesus gives us is Companionship for ministry. In verse 7, we read "Calling the Twelve to him, he sent them out two by two." It was customary in both Jewish and Greek culture to send messengers in groups of two. The bottom line is that God never intended you and I to do the work of the ministry by ourselves. We need help! We need encouragement! I pity the person who thinks they can do God’s work all by themselves. Because when they fail miserably, there will be no one there to console them. No one to help them up. Before you try anything new for the Lord, I want you to pray to God that he will send someone who will pray for you and work with you and love you. Don’t try to do everything by yourself. We must get some help. If you would like to learn more about God's call please join us in our Sunday worship at 11:00 AM.
June 30, 2024 HEALING POWERS
Our gospel reading for this Sunday is St. Mark 5: 21- 43. The story begins with a request by Jairus, a ruler of the synagogue, for Jesus to heal his daughter. Jesus with his disciples decided to go to Jairus’s house. On their way a woman who had been suffering from hemorrhages interrupted them. While dealing with this sick woman, the word came to Jairus that his daughter had died. The rest of the passage deals with Jesus raising Jairus’ daughter from the dead.
First, the woman who has no name mentioned in this passage had been suffering from hemorrhage for more than twelve years. In fact, this woman didn't know what to do. She did not know where to turn. Everybody suggested a different remedy, but none of it worked. She visited many physicians, but none of them could heal her. As time passed, her sickness grew worse. When she heard Jesus was coming to town, she pushed her way through the crowd and touched his clothes, thinking to herself, if I touch his clothes I will be made well. We read in St. Mark chapter 3, verse 10, “for he had healed many, so that all who had diseases pressed around him to touch him” (ESV).
Under Jewish law, this woman was “untouchable,” cut off from the rest of society. She couldn’t marry, or if she was married, her husband would divorce her on these grounds. She couldn’t go to the temple to worship. She couldn’t socialize. She was an outcast. According to Leviticus, anything, or anybody she touched would be considered “unclean”. If touched, that person must wash their clothes, take a bath, and would be considered “unclean” until the evening. She infects everyone and everything she touches. She had lived in isolation for 12 long years.
Everybody has “issues”. For this woman, it was an “issue” of blood. You may have some unresolved “issues” in your life. It may be a physical issue that the doctors haven’t been able to resolve. It may be a financial issue that you feel overwhelmed and burdened. It may be a social issue that you are dealing with problems with your family or friends. Or it might be a spiritual issue that you have some sin problems that are weighing you down.
Everybody has “issues” … and, maybe this has been going on for a long time. This woman found relief when she fell at the feet of Jesus. That’s a good starting place to find relief, at the feet of Jesus. She came and fell before Him and told Him the whole truth. Remember when we come to Jesus, we must tell Him the whole truth.
This woman was condemned by religious law to a feeling, a belief. She was condemned to believe that she was soiled and unworthy. Not only was she unclean, but anything she touched was unclean. This meant it was her responsibility not to contaminate others. And we know that this was the way she felt because the text says that when she had to identify herself as the one who touched Jesus, she "came in fear and trembling." She knew she was unclean, and she had hoped nobody would notice her. She knew that by touching the hem of Jesus' garment he would make her clean.
The story leaves no doubt about how she felt. She knew that now Jesus would have to observe some washing rituals to purify himself. Can you imagine the state of mind of this person? She had indeed internalized the condemnation of her society and her religion. She had been socialized to think of herself as dirty, as soiled, and as filthy.
I want us to think about this. Socialization is such a strong force in our lives. Even if we know differently "intellectually," we often act the way we have been socialized. Why? Because the process of socialization convinces us that what society says, what society has as a rule or custom, that is what is normal. If we think differently, if we act differently, we are deviants, we are abnormal. There is something wrong with us, sometimes we become inferior because of our thinking and action.
It is against this social norm that this courageous woman must act. What gave her the courage to act? What pushed her to go ahead and touch the hem of Jesus' garment despite her feelings of uncleanness? It is her positive thinking that she will be made well and when Jesus encountered her, she told the whole truth about all her problems and the reason she touched the hem of his garment. In return Jesus said “daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace and be healed of your disease”.
Our gospel reading for this Sunday is St. Mark 5: 21- 43. The story begins with a request by Jairus, a ruler of the synagogue, for Jesus to heal his daughter. Jesus with his disciples decided to go to Jairus’s house. On their way a woman who had been suffering from hemorrhages interrupted them. While dealing with this sick woman, the word came to Jairus that his daughter had died. The rest of the passage deals with Jesus raising Jairus’ daughter from the dead.
First, the woman who has no name mentioned in this passage had been suffering from hemorrhage for more than twelve years. In fact, this woman didn't know what to do. She did not know where to turn. Everybody suggested a different remedy, but none of it worked. She visited many physicians, but none of them could heal her. As time passed, her sickness grew worse. When she heard Jesus was coming to town, she pushed her way through the crowd and touched his clothes, thinking to herself, if I touch his clothes I will be made well. We read in St. Mark chapter 3, verse 10, “for he had healed many, so that all who had diseases pressed around him to touch him” (ESV).
Under Jewish law, this woman was “untouchable,” cut off from the rest of society. She couldn’t marry, or if she was married, her husband would divorce her on these grounds. She couldn’t go to the temple to worship. She couldn’t socialize. She was an outcast. According to Leviticus, anything, or anybody she touched would be considered “unclean”. If touched, that person must wash their clothes, take a bath, and would be considered “unclean” until the evening. She infects everyone and everything she touches. She had lived in isolation for 12 long years.
Everybody has “issues”. For this woman, it was an “issue” of blood. You may have some unresolved “issues” in your life. It may be a physical issue that the doctors haven’t been able to resolve. It may be a financial issue that you feel overwhelmed and burdened. It may be a social issue that you are dealing with problems with your family or friends. Or it might be a spiritual issue that you have some sin problems that are weighing you down.
Everybody has “issues” … and, maybe this has been going on for a long time. This woman found relief when she fell at the feet of Jesus. That’s a good starting place to find relief, at the feet of Jesus. She came and fell before Him and told Him the whole truth. Remember when we come to Jesus, we must tell Him the whole truth.
This woman was condemned by religious law to a feeling, a belief. She was condemned to believe that she was soiled and unworthy. Not only was she unclean, but anything she touched was unclean. This meant it was her responsibility not to contaminate others. And we know that this was the way she felt because the text says that when she had to identify herself as the one who touched Jesus, she "came in fear and trembling." She knew she was unclean, and she had hoped nobody would notice her. She knew that by touching the hem of Jesus' garment he would make her clean.
The story leaves no doubt about how she felt. She knew that now Jesus would have to observe some washing rituals to purify himself. Can you imagine the state of mind of this person? She had indeed internalized the condemnation of her society and her religion. She had been socialized to think of herself as dirty, as soiled, and as filthy.
I want us to think about this. Socialization is such a strong force in our lives. Even if we know differently "intellectually," we often act the way we have been socialized. Why? Because the process of socialization convinces us that what society says, what society has as a rule or custom, that is what is normal. If we think differently, if we act differently, we are deviants, we are abnormal. There is something wrong with us, sometimes we become inferior because of our thinking and action.
It is against this social norm that this courageous woman must act. What gave her the courage to act? What pushed her to go ahead and touch the hem of Jesus' garment despite her feelings of uncleanness? It is her positive thinking that she will be made well and when Jesus encountered her, she told the whole truth about all her problems and the reason she touched the hem of his garment. In return Jesus said “daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace and be healed of your disease”.
June 23, 2024. PUSHING THE BOAT OUT
The gospel text for this Sunday St. Mark 4:35-41, we read about Jesus doing what human beings cannot. We see Him make the list of engineering feats. He controls the water and waves, and does so with just two, little, simple words. Our gospel reading takes place on the Sea of Galilee. Jesus has just finished a period of teaching when He decides to leave the crowd and, along with His disciples, go across to the other side. There was a small fleet of boats accompanying them. As they were making this journey we are told that a great windstorm arose.
This morning, we will look at this miracle, and see what it means for our lives. This would not have just been a bit of rough water. Few years back Vatsala and I were in a boat on the sea of Galilee. That was an awesome and wonderful experience!
The Sea of Galilee is about 696 feet, below sea level, it is about fourteen miles long and about seven miles wide. It is shaped like a harp. On any given night, it should have taken the disciples about three hours to sail or row across the lake resulting in violent downdrafts and sudden storms. It would have hit suddenly, and it would have hit hard. Calm sea could be whipped up into ferocious waves by fierce winds within minutes. It comes as absolutely no surprise then that the passage tells us that waves were breaking into the boat to the extent that it was quickly filling with water. This would have seemed like a hopeless situation. It would have been panic, chaos and terror aboard those boats. Men running about desperately trying to do whatever they could to try and keep their vessels afloat. The disciples would have been convinced that this was the end.
During this scene of devastation, the disciples come to find that Jesus is asleep! This would have seemed absurd and shocking in this situation. How could someone sleep amidst this chaos? How could someone sleep knowing that they were likely about to die? It gives a glimpse into Jesus’s character and who He was. It shows us that He had no fear of the wind and the waves. He knew who He was, and He knew that the storm was no threat to Him. The disciples do not have this confidence and they ask Him ‘Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?’
We can look at this question from two angles. On one hand, it seems like a completely natural and plausible question to ask in this situation. They would have wondered why He wasn’t helping them during this desperate situation. But then, on the other hand, we remember that this man is Jesus. The disciples have spent time with Him, listened to His groundbreaking teaching and have seen Him perform miracles of healing. What we see playing out here, is that their fear of perishing is greater than their confidence in the presence of Jesus.
It’s at this point that Jesus gets up and we’re told that He rebukes the wind and says to the sea ‘Peace, be still’. And suddenly, the wind and the waves which only moments earlier were raging to a terrifying extent, stop and are replaced with what we are told is a great calm. What we witness here is Jesus displaying His divine power over the forces of nature. He then turns to His disciples and rebukes them. He says ‘Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?’ Why did He say this? He said this because faith is the ultimate antidote to fear. Jesus is expecting that as they put their faith in Him, they will cease to fear the threats of the world. This whole event, we’re told, caused them to ask themselves the question ‘Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey Him?’
The questions for us to ask now are what does this mean for me, right here, this morning? How is this relevant to my life? Life is stormy. We never know what is ahead. We have all experienced pain, fear and loss. We’ve all been in those situations where we wonder where Jesus is during it all. Through this passage, God is speaking directly into those situations today. The disciples asked, ‘who is this man?’ The quick answer, of course, well He was Jesus, the Son of God. But to get the full answer we need to rewind back to the very beginning and connect in with the overarching story of the whole Bible. So here it is, in brief: Since before the beginning of time itself, God knew each of us and He loved each of us more than we can ever comprehend, and He has a plan for our lives.
The gospel text for this Sunday St. Mark 4:35-41, we read about Jesus doing what human beings cannot. We see Him make the list of engineering feats. He controls the water and waves, and does so with just two, little, simple words. Our gospel reading takes place on the Sea of Galilee. Jesus has just finished a period of teaching when He decides to leave the crowd and, along with His disciples, go across to the other side. There was a small fleet of boats accompanying them. As they were making this journey we are told that a great windstorm arose.
This morning, we will look at this miracle, and see what it means for our lives. This would not have just been a bit of rough water. Few years back Vatsala and I were in a boat on the sea of Galilee. That was an awesome and wonderful experience!
The Sea of Galilee is about 696 feet, below sea level, it is about fourteen miles long and about seven miles wide. It is shaped like a harp. On any given night, it should have taken the disciples about three hours to sail or row across the lake resulting in violent downdrafts and sudden storms. It would have hit suddenly, and it would have hit hard. Calm sea could be whipped up into ferocious waves by fierce winds within minutes. It comes as absolutely no surprise then that the passage tells us that waves were breaking into the boat to the extent that it was quickly filling with water. This would have seemed like a hopeless situation. It would have been panic, chaos and terror aboard those boats. Men running about desperately trying to do whatever they could to try and keep their vessels afloat. The disciples would have been convinced that this was the end.
During this scene of devastation, the disciples come to find that Jesus is asleep! This would have seemed absurd and shocking in this situation. How could someone sleep amidst this chaos? How could someone sleep knowing that they were likely about to die? It gives a glimpse into Jesus’s character and who He was. It shows us that He had no fear of the wind and the waves. He knew who He was, and He knew that the storm was no threat to Him. The disciples do not have this confidence and they ask Him ‘Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?’
We can look at this question from two angles. On one hand, it seems like a completely natural and plausible question to ask in this situation. They would have wondered why He wasn’t helping them during this desperate situation. But then, on the other hand, we remember that this man is Jesus. The disciples have spent time with Him, listened to His groundbreaking teaching and have seen Him perform miracles of healing. What we see playing out here, is that their fear of perishing is greater than their confidence in the presence of Jesus.
It’s at this point that Jesus gets up and we’re told that He rebukes the wind and says to the sea ‘Peace, be still’. And suddenly, the wind and the waves which only moments earlier were raging to a terrifying extent, stop and are replaced with what we are told is a great calm. What we witness here is Jesus displaying His divine power over the forces of nature. He then turns to His disciples and rebukes them. He says ‘Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?’ Why did He say this? He said this because faith is the ultimate antidote to fear. Jesus is expecting that as they put their faith in Him, they will cease to fear the threats of the world. This whole event, we’re told, caused them to ask themselves the question ‘Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey Him?’
The questions for us to ask now are what does this mean for me, right here, this morning? How is this relevant to my life? Life is stormy. We never know what is ahead. We have all experienced pain, fear and loss. We’ve all been in those situations where we wonder where Jesus is during it all. Through this passage, God is speaking directly into those situations today. The disciples asked, ‘who is this man?’ The quick answer, of course, well He was Jesus, the Son of God. But to get the full answer we need to rewind back to the very beginning and connect in with the overarching story of the whole Bible. So here it is, in brief: Since before the beginning of time itself, God knew each of us and He loved each of us more than we can ever comprehend, and He has a plan for our lives.
2024
Short Sermons
June 16, 2024. FLOURISHING
Happy Father’s Day.
Many Christians are fascinated with the life story of King David, and I am one of them. I like to focus my thoughts for this Sunday on the first reading. The first reading for this Sunday is taken from form I Samuel 15: 34 -16:13. The passage opens with God reminding Samuel of the fact that He has rejected Saul as the king of Israel. As a result of Saul’s rebellion, God chooses a new king to rule over Israel. He chooses a young man named David. When God chooses David, He chooses an unlikely candidate for such a lofty and powerful office. In God’s choice of David as a king, we see something of the process God uses when He would choose someone to work for Him.
Today, we will be learning upon how God Chooses His servant-Leader David. There are few things I would like to highlight: God's choices are Sovereign, God’s Choice are Surprising, and God’s choices are specific. It may be that God has His hand on someone this morning in this sanctuary. It may be that He is about to choose someone from our gathering this morning to work for Him. I know He is looking for such people this morning.
First, God’s choices are Sovereign. It is against the backdrop of rebellion and rejection that God begins the process of choosing a new king for Israel. He was ready to raise up a new king and the people had been made ready to accept a new king. God worked behind the scenes during those difficult days in Israel’s history to prepare the way for His plan to be fulfilled. Samuel is told where to go to find the new king. It appears that the Lord had been arranging everything to bring His chosen king into the world at precisely the right moment in history. For me there are no accidents in life! Everything that occurs is part of a larger plan. God is working, often behind the scenes; in ways that we cannot comprehend, to accomplish His plans and His purposes.
Thank God for the truth that God is in absolute control! God is well able to bring His plan to pass. He will never propose a plan that He is not able to accomplish! Whether it is a plan to raise up a shepherd boy and make him a king, or whether it is a plan to work out His will in your life; He is well able to see it through. God’s sovereign choices extend to every area of life. I do not presume to understand it all, but I believe the Bible teaches us that God is in the business of working out all things according to His will and bringing His eternal purposes to pass in time. Some people are bothered by the notion that God is in absolute control of all of life. However, I find it very comforting! I know that nothing can happen unless God ordains it. Thank God for His sovereign choices!
The second is that God's choices are Surprising. Samuel is set to Bethlehem to anoint the new king. When Samuel arrives there, at Jesse’s house, Samuel commands Jesse to gather his sons. They come before the prophet Samuel and pass before him one by one. It is in this process that God makes known His choice for king. But, His choices, while they are sovereign, also carry with them some real surprises. The first of Jesse’s sons passes before Samuel, and on seeing his sons Samuel thinks that he is surely the chosen one. But, God says, “I have refused him.” The word “refuse” simply means to “reject, God tells Samuel that He does not look at the physical attributes of a man. God looks at the character of a man’s heart.
Before Saul ever ceased being King, God had already determined to raise up a man with the right kind of heart. You see, as the sons of Jesse stood there that day, what Samuel could not see was the condition of their hearts. After the seven sons of Jesse have passed before Samuel and all have been rejected by God, Samuel finds out that there is another son. He is the youngest and he is said to be with the sheep. He is so insignificant within the family that he is not even summoned with the rest of the boys, but he is left out of the feast and the sacrifice. He is out there doing the job of a humble servant.
In fact, when he is mentioned by his father, he is not even called by his name; he is simply called “the youngest.” When he walks in, Samuel sees a handsome, young man; bright-eyed. God tells Samuel to anoint this one, for this is him! The one rejected and passed over by the others is the very one picked by the Lord! No doubt Jesse and his sons were all amazed as they watched the ancient prophet hobble over to young David and pour the anointing oil on his head.
Happy Father’s Day.
Many Christians are fascinated with the life story of King David, and I am one of them. I like to focus my thoughts for this Sunday on the first reading. The first reading for this Sunday is taken from form I Samuel 15: 34 -16:13. The passage opens with God reminding Samuel of the fact that He has rejected Saul as the king of Israel. As a result of Saul’s rebellion, God chooses a new king to rule over Israel. He chooses a young man named David. When God chooses David, He chooses an unlikely candidate for such a lofty and powerful office. In God’s choice of David as a king, we see something of the process God uses when He would choose someone to work for Him.
Today, we will be learning upon how God Chooses His servant-Leader David. There are few things I would like to highlight: God's choices are Sovereign, God’s Choice are Surprising, and God’s choices are specific. It may be that God has His hand on someone this morning in this sanctuary. It may be that He is about to choose someone from our gathering this morning to work for Him. I know He is looking for such people this morning.
First, God’s choices are Sovereign. It is against the backdrop of rebellion and rejection that God begins the process of choosing a new king for Israel. He was ready to raise up a new king and the people had been made ready to accept a new king. God worked behind the scenes during those difficult days in Israel’s history to prepare the way for His plan to be fulfilled. Samuel is told where to go to find the new king. It appears that the Lord had been arranging everything to bring His chosen king into the world at precisely the right moment in history. For me there are no accidents in life! Everything that occurs is part of a larger plan. God is working, often behind the scenes; in ways that we cannot comprehend, to accomplish His plans and His purposes.
Thank God for the truth that God is in absolute control! God is well able to bring His plan to pass. He will never propose a plan that He is not able to accomplish! Whether it is a plan to raise up a shepherd boy and make him a king, or whether it is a plan to work out His will in your life; He is well able to see it through. God’s sovereign choices extend to every area of life. I do not presume to understand it all, but I believe the Bible teaches us that God is in the business of working out all things according to His will and bringing His eternal purposes to pass in time. Some people are bothered by the notion that God is in absolute control of all of life. However, I find it very comforting! I know that nothing can happen unless God ordains it. Thank God for His sovereign choices!
The second is that God's choices are Surprising. Samuel is set to Bethlehem to anoint the new king. When Samuel arrives there, at Jesse’s house, Samuel commands Jesse to gather his sons. They come before the prophet Samuel and pass before him one by one. It is in this process that God makes known His choice for king. But, His choices, while they are sovereign, also carry with them some real surprises. The first of Jesse’s sons passes before Samuel, and on seeing his sons Samuel thinks that he is surely the chosen one. But, God says, “I have refused him.” The word “refuse” simply means to “reject, God tells Samuel that He does not look at the physical attributes of a man. God looks at the character of a man’s heart.
Before Saul ever ceased being King, God had already determined to raise up a man with the right kind of heart. You see, as the sons of Jesse stood there that day, what Samuel could not see was the condition of their hearts. After the seven sons of Jesse have passed before Samuel and all have been rejected by God, Samuel finds out that there is another son. He is the youngest and he is said to be with the sheep. He is so insignificant within the family that he is not even summoned with the rest of the boys, but he is left out of the feast and the sacrifice. He is out there doing the job of a humble servant.
In fact, when he is mentioned by his father, he is not even called by his name; he is simply called “the youngest.” When he walks in, Samuel sees a handsome, young man; bright-eyed. God tells Samuel to anoint this one, for this is him! The one rejected and passed over by the others is the very one picked by the Lord! No doubt Jesse and his sons were all amazed as they watched the ancient prophet hobble over to young David and pour the anointing oil on his head.
May 19,2024 SPIRIT FOR ALL
This Sunday is Pentecost Sunday. Pentecost is the story of the Holy Spirit breathing a movement into the life of the disciples. On this day of the year, we celebrate how the church began. Here’s what happened in the history and development of the church: The disciples had gathered in Jerusalem. Jesus had instructed them not to leave Jerusalem, to wait for the gift that the Father had promised. So, the disciples waited.
It was now 50 days since Passover, and it was the custom of the Jewish tradition to celebrate two important things at this time of the year. The first is the fruits of the Harvest and the other is giving of the Law. They called it the Harvest of Weeks. The disciples find themselves surrounded by travelers from all over the world. It is Jewish custom that every male Jew had to come back home to participate in this agricultural and religious Festivals. Some had come from Europe, some from Asia, and some from Africa. Many different nationalities and languages could be seen in the marketplaces.
The Gift that the Father had promised came like a mighty rushing wind and flames of fire the disciples were filled with and engulfed by the Holy Spirit. They began to speak to everyone about what Jesus had done. Peter stood up amidst throngs of people in the street and said, "Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, but you with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to a cross. “But God” raised him from the dead, and we all are witnesses of this fact. Exalted to the right hand of God he has poured out the Holy Spirit upon us. Therefore, let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ." View the entire short sermon.
This Sunday is Pentecost Sunday. Pentecost is the story of the Holy Spirit breathing a movement into the life of the disciples. On this day of the year, we celebrate how the church began. Here’s what happened in the history and development of the church: The disciples had gathered in Jerusalem. Jesus had instructed them not to leave Jerusalem, to wait for the gift that the Father had promised. So, the disciples waited.
It was now 50 days since Passover, and it was the custom of the Jewish tradition to celebrate two important things at this time of the year. The first is the fruits of the Harvest and the other is giving of the Law. They called it the Harvest of Weeks. The disciples find themselves surrounded by travelers from all over the world. It is Jewish custom that every male Jew had to come back home to participate in this agricultural and religious Festivals. Some had come from Europe, some from Asia, and some from Africa. Many different nationalities and languages could be seen in the marketplaces.
The Gift that the Father had promised came like a mighty rushing wind and flames of fire the disciples were filled with and engulfed by the Holy Spirit. They began to speak to everyone about what Jesus had done. Peter stood up amidst throngs of people in the street and said, "Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, but you with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to a cross. “But God” raised him from the dead, and we all are witnesses of this fact. Exalted to the right hand of God he has poured out the Holy Spirit upon us. Therefore, let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ." View the entire short sermon.
May 12, 2024 GUIDED IN PRAYER
Happy Mother's Day!
The gospel reading for this Sunday St. John 17: 6-19, explains to us about the prayer of Jesus. One of the most encouraging experiences as a Christian is to be prayed for by someone else and not only prayed for but prayed with. When someone prays for you in your presence, something special happens in your heart: you feel warmed and encouraged. You will feel the sense of intimacy, both between the person praying for you and you, and between God and you. It’s like you are knocking on heaven’s doors together. Prayer is one of the best ways to build relationships between Christians and one of the surest ways of ensuring unity in the church. When people are praying together there is always unity.
Jesus prays for us. Paul writes to Romans 8:34 says something very similar: “It is Christ Jesus, who died, yes, who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who indeed intercedes for us.” If you have had the experience of someone praying with you, of having someone, bringing your concerns and needs before God, I invite you now to imagine Jesus doing exactly that.
In the gospel passage for this Sunday, which also explains Jesus’ final moments with his disciples before being arrested, Jesus prays for his disciples. Knowing that he will be leaving them, praying for them is the best way to prepare them. This prayer is a famous prayer called the high priestly prayer. Jesus prays for us, and we should pray for each other and pray for the revival of our church. View the entire short sermon.
Happy Mother's Day!
The gospel reading for this Sunday St. John 17: 6-19, explains to us about the prayer of Jesus. One of the most encouraging experiences as a Christian is to be prayed for by someone else and not only prayed for but prayed with. When someone prays for you in your presence, something special happens in your heart: you feel warmed and encouraged. You will feel the sense of intimacy, both between the person praying for you and you, and between God and you. It’s like you are knocking on heaven’s doors together. Prayer is one of the best ways to build relationships between Christians and one of the surest ways of ensuring unity in the church. When people are praying together there is always unity.
Jesus prays for us. Paul writes to Romans 8:34 says something very similar: “It is Christ Jesus, who died, yes, who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who indeed intercedes for us.” If you have had the experience of someone praying with you, of having someone, bringing your concerns and needs before God, I invite you now to imagine Jesus doing exactly that.
In the gospel passage for this Sunday, which also explains Jesus’ final moments with his disciples before being arrested, Jesus prays for his disciples. Knowing that he will be leaving them, praying for them is the best way to prepare them. This prayer is a famous prayer called the high priestly prayer. Jesus prays for us, and we should pray for each other and pray for the revival of our church. View the entire short sermon.
May 5, 2025 FRIENDS TOGETHER
In our gospel passage this morning St. John 15:9-17, the writer John is helping us to understand the relationship between the servant and friend. For Jesus said in verse 15 “I do not call you servants any longer, but I have called you friends.” Does this mean something like a close friend who sits next to us in the church or our neighbor and our coworker or our employer. Jesus chose to change our relationship with us from servitude to friendship.
Jesus is the one in whom we can confide as he confides in us, that there is mutuality and equality, laughter and joy, trust and companionship, just like in our human relationship. Let us look at what a servant is and what a friend is? Jesus said, “I do not call you servants any longer.” The Greek word used here for servant is “douloi” which means servant or bondsman or slave. Servant sounds better than the word slave. There was slavery in the ancient world, Greek law defined slaves as “living tool” and the purpose of a slave is to work. The slave was not free to refuse the tasks, but required to do whatever the master willed.
The basis of the relationship between a master and a servant was work. When orders were given obedience was expected without even knowing the master’s intentions. The Bible gives a completely different view. Biblical characters of great honor were named as servants of God. In Deuteronomy 34:35 Moses was called servant of God. In the book of Joshua 24:29 Joshua was mentioned as the servant of God. In Psalm 89:20 we read David as a servant of God. All lived as servants or slaves of God, in that they did what God had told them to do. In most of the cases we see that they were obedient to God’s word and their goal was to fulfill God’s will.
Like slaves they accepted and followed their masters’ instructions, doing what he told them to do and accomplishing the work set before them. Christ is our Lord and master in that our lives are dependent on his, we belong to him, we find no true freedom apart from him, and even though we do not fully understand the mind of God, we are to follow the instruction of our Lord. Being a servant of Jesus Christ is not a bad thing, it is an honorable way to live for a strong believer and a true Christian. Being a servant of Jesus Christ makes it better in our lives. View the entire short sermon.
In our gospel passage this morning St. John 15:9-17, the writer John is helping us to understand the relationship between the servant and friend. For Jesus said in verse 15 “I do not call you servants any longer, but I have called you friends.” Does this mean something like a close friend who sits next to us in the church or our neighbor and our coworker or our employer. Jesus chose to change our relationship with us from servitude to friendship.
Jesus is the one in whom we can confide as he confides in us, that there is mutuality and equality, laughter and joy, trust and companionship, just like in our human relationship. Let us look at what a servant is and what a friend is? Jesus said, “I do not call you servants any longer.” The Greek word used here for servant is “douloi” which means servant or bondsman or slave. Servant sounds better than the word slave. There was slavery in the ancient world, Greek law defined slaves as “living tool” and the purpose of a slave is to work. The slave was not free to refuse the tasks, but required to do whatever the master willed.
The basis of the relationship between a master and a servant was work. When orders were given obedience was expected without even knowing the master’s intentions. The Bible gives a completely different view. Biblical characters of great honor were named as servants of God. In Deuteronomy 34:35 Moses was called servant of God. In the book of Joshua 24:29 Joshua was mentioned as the servant of God. In Psalm 89:20 we read David as a servant of God. All lived as servants or slaves of God, in that they did what God had told them to do. In most of the cases we see that they were obedient to God’s word and their goal was to fulfill God’s will.
Like slaves they accepted and followed their masters’ instructions, doing what he told them to do and accomplishing the work set before them. Christ is our Lord and master in that our lives are dependent on his, we belong to him, we find no true freedom apart from him, and even though we do not fully understand the mind of God, we are to follow the instruction of our Lord. Being a servant of Jesus Christ is not a bad thing, it is an honorable way to live for a strong believer and a true Christian. Being a servant of Jesus Christ makes it better in our lives. View the entire short sermon.
April 28, 2024 ABIDING IN LOVE
The gospel passage for this Sunday St. John 15: 1-8, explains to us that Jesus is the Source of life. In verse 1, Jesus says “I am the true vine” Jesus was a master teacher. Jesus always used examples, the things which were common to those people who listened, so that they could understand His teaching.
As we are meditating on this gospel lesson for this Sunday morning, we see each of us must answer two questions: First, are we connected to the vine, or is the life of Christ flowing within us? Secondly, if we are connected to the vine and we are joined to Christ, then how much fruit are we producing through our lives; is there no fruit, some fruit, or an abundance of fruit?
I believe that Jesus and His disciples were making their way, they have been walking beside something familiar to everyone in Jerusalem, one of them is a grapevine. Jesus told His disciples, “I am the true vine.”
Everyone living in Jerusalem, and even those fishermen among the disciples who walked with Jesus knew that life flowed from the vine into the branches. So, Jesus uses these common examples around Jerusalem to bring further understanding to what He had said earlier. Jesus is the source of life, a resource made available by the Holy Spirit when He comes to dwell within the believer. View the entire short sermon.
The gospel passage for this Sunday St. John 15: 1-8, explains to us that Jesus is the Source of life. In verse 1, Jesus says “I am the true vine” Jesus was a master teacher. Jesus always used examples, the things which were common to those people who listened, so that they could understand His teaching.
As we are meditating on this gospel lesson for this Sunday morning, we see each of us must answer two questions: First, are we connected to the vine, or is the life of Christ flowing within us? Secondly, if we are connected to the vine and we are joined to Christ, then how much fruit are we producing through our lives; is there no fruit, some fruit, or an abundance of fruit?
I believe that Jesus and His disciples were making their way, they have been walking beside something familiar to everyone in Jerusalem, one of them is a grapevine. Jesus told His disciples, “I am the true vine.”
Everyone living in Jerusalem, and even those fishermen among the disciples who walked with Jesus knew that life flowed from the vine into the branches. So, Jesus uses these common examples around Jerusalem to bring further understanding to what He had said earlier. Jesus is the source of life, a resource made available by the Holy Spirit when He comes to dwell within the believer. View the entire short sermon.
April 21, 2024 ENFOLDED BY LOVE
The fourth Sunday after Easter has been traditionally known as the Shepherd Sunday. In our Gospel passage for today, St. John 10:11-18, in verse 11we read “I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father.”
Jesus was telling the people a parable about a good shepherd. A shepherd who was honest, caring, compassionate, and will die to take care of his sheep. Jesus is also telling us something about himself, as he is the good shepherd of our lives. Jesus uses the example that people can understand, a parable about shepherds to tell us something about himself, that he is the good shepherd of our lives.
Jesus uses this parable about shepherds because the people in his days knew the kind of life that a shepherd lived, it was a difficult and a hard life. A shepherd felt he had a calling from a young age to tend to sheep, so he spent his whole young life learning how to care for the sheep, then the rest of his adult life tending the sheep will be easy for him, fighting the animals who would attack the sheep, and sometimes fighting with robbers who would steal the sheep. Shephard’s life was a lonely life, a difficult life, but if a shepherd did his job well everyone would know that he was a good shepherd
What an important and timely message to hear from our crucified and risen Lord. We are known by the shepherd! We are known by God! And we are known intimately, not just by our numbers. Jesus knows us personally. He knows us by our character. He knows what is in our heart and soul. He knows us by our name.
View the entire short sermon.
The fourth Sunday after Easter has been traditionally known as the Shepherd Sunday. In our Gospel passage for today, St. John 10:11-18, in verse 11we read “I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father.”
Jesus was telling the people a parable about a good shepherd. A shepherd who was honest, caring, compassionate, and will die to take care of his sheep. Jesus is also telling us something about himself, as he is the good shepherd of our lives. Jesus uses the example that people can understand, a parable about shepherds to tell us something about himself, that he is the good shepherd of our lives.
Jesus uses this parable about shepherds because the people in his days knew the kind of life that a shepherd lived, it was a difficult and a hard life. A shepherd felt he had a calling from a young age to tend to sheep, so he spent his whole young life learning how to care for the sheep, then the rest of his adult life tending the sheep will be easy for him, fighting the animals who would attack the sheep, and sometimes fighting with robbers who would steal the sheep. Shephard’s life was a lonely life, a difficult life, but if a shepherd did his job well everyone would know that he was a good shepherd
What an important and timely message to hear from our crucified and risen Lord. We are known by the shepherd! We are known by God! And we are known intimately, not just by our numbers. Jesus knows us personally. He knows us by our character. He knows what is in our heart and soul. He knows us by our name.
View the entire short sermon.
April 14, 2024 CHRIST AMONG US
The New Testament records ten different resurrection appearances of Jesus. Today we are going to look at one of the most captivating, a story only found in the gospel of Luke chapter 24. Luke is famous for the way he uses the role of walking and traveling to share the fundamental truths of the Gospel of Jesus. Much of Luke’s Gospel from chapter nine onwards centers around Jesus’ walking towards Jerusalem.
In the world we live in today, we can identify a lot with those disciples of Jesus after His resurrection. It is interesting how the lectionary texts seem to always manage to address current issues? Fear: If there was a common theme between all the doors that we hide behind (from both the past and the present), then it seems that it would have to be fear. Is our fear creating distance between who we are and who God wants us to be? In our life isolation and fear create distance.
This Sunday's Gospel lesson St. Luke 24: 36-48, is about Jesus appearing to the fearful disciples and saying to them Peace be with you! After the death of Jesus Christ, the life story of the disciples was filled with fear. Luke writes about their confusion, doubt, and uncertainty. In chapter 24 the first part is all about disappointment and disillusionment. Have you ever noticed that some of the saddest words in the English language begin with the letter D? For example, disappointment, doubt, disillusionment, defeat, despair, and death. View the entire short sermon.
The New Testament records ten different resurrection appearances of Jesus. Today we are going to look at one of the most captivating, a story only found in the gospel of Luke chapter 24. Luke is famous for the way he uses the role of walking and traveling to share the fundamental truths of the Gospel of Jesus. Much of Luke’s Gospel from chapter nine onwards centers around Jesus’ walking towards Jerusalem.
In the world we live in today, we can identify a lot with those disciples of Jesus after His resurrection. It is interesting how the lectionary texts seem to always manage to address current issues? Fear: If there was a common theme between all the doors that we hide behind (from both the past and the present), then it seems that it would have to be fear. Is our fear creating distance between who we are and who God wants us to be? In our life isolation and fear create distance.
This Sunday's Gospel lesson St. Luke 24: 36-48, is about Jesus appearing to the fearful disciples and saying to them Peace be with you! After the death of Jesus Christ, the life story of the disciples was filled with fear. Luke writes about their confusion, doubt, and uncertainty. In chapter 24 the first part is all about disappointment and disillusionment. Have you ever noticed that some of the saddest words in the English language begin with the letter D? For example, disappointment, doubt, disillusionment, defeat, despair, and death. View the entire short sermon.
April 7, 2024 MARKS OF FAITH
The Holy Gospel appointed for this Sunday St. John 20: 19-31, announces how our Lord Jesus Christ conferred huge powers upon his followers when he appeared to them as the Risen Christ. This story places at our disposal the same kind of Easter power.
The appearance of Jesus appears to be substantiated by the other Gospel account in Luke. The disciples were quite obviously in a state of shock. They were completely drenched with fear because of what might happen to them in the light of the disappearance of Jesus from the tomb. They are locked in the Upper Room as a defense against anyone who might be seeking them out.
The first words Jesus uttered to his assembled and frightened disciples the first time He saw them after the resurrection was “PEACE BE WITH YOU!” Jesus speaks these words to the disciples, once without Thomas and once when Thomas was present.
What is the message of Easter for you this year? I believe God has a new message for us this morning. For those of you who live constantly in fear: fear of failure, fear of death, fear of so many things, etc., etc. and the list goes on. Christ is risen and He brings PEACE!
Sometimes we do not know how to convey the news to someone, to the group of fearful disciples the risen Lord Jesus comes to them to take away the fear and tells them “Peace be unto you”. View the entire short sermon.
The Holy Gospel appointed for this Sunday St. John 20: 19-31, announces how our Lord Jesus Christ conferred huge powers upon his followers when he appeared to them as the Risen Christ. This story places at our disposal the same kind of Easter power.
The appearance of Jesus appears to be substantiated by the other Gospel account in Luke. The disciples were quite obviously in a state of shock. They were completely drenched with fear because of what might happen to them in the light of the disappearance of Jesus from the tomb. They are locked in the Upper Room as a defense against anyone who might be seeking them out.
The first words Jesus uttered to his assembled and frightened disciples the first time He saw them after the resurrection was “PEACE BE WITH YOU!” Jesus speaks these words to the disciples, once without Thomas and once when Thomas was present.
What is the message of Easter for you this year? I believe God has a new message for us this morning. For those of you who live constantly in fear: fear of failure, fear of death, fear of so many things, etc., etc. and the list goes on. Christ is risen and He brings PEACE!
Sometimes we do not know how to convey the news to someone, to the group of fearful disciples the risen Lord Jesus comes to them to take away the fear and tells them “Peace be unto you”. View the entire short sermon.
March 31, 2024 NOW WHAT?
May the peace and grace of our resurrected Lord Jesus Christ be with you all!
The Apostle Paul insists that the resurrection is central to Christianity. 1 Corinthians 15:14–19, we read “and if Christ has not been raised, then our proclamation has been in vain, and your faith has been in vain. We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified of God that he raised Christ—whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised. If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile, and you are still in your sins. Then those also who have died in Christ have perished. If for this life only we have hoped in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied" (NRSV).
Love carried Christ to the cross, but the moral influence of a mere model of love is of minimal value. The crucifixion without the resurrection grants no forgiveness. But the Bible insists that this Jesus – crucified, dead, and buried – rose from the dead! Furthermore, this is the best news anyone could ever hear. The resurrection of Jesus is that kind of news: life-changing truth, which demands at least three responses from us today.
According to the gospel passage for this Easter Sunday St. John 20:1-18, we must accept the “Resurrection” because it is true: (John 20.1-10) Peter and John run to the tomb after Mary’s report of a missing body. John arrives first and stops at the short doorway. Peter plunges into the cave, John then follows. They see something surprising: the burial cloth. God provides more evidence of the resurrection: the testimonies of Jesus’ apostles, the reports of hundreds of eyewitnesses, the changed character of the disciples, and the manuscripts which offer many proofs of their historicity and reliability. We could also study how these accounts have marks of first-hand truth to the evidence of the empty tomb. View the entire short sermon.
May the peace and grace of our resurrected Lord Jesus Christ be with you all!
The Apostle Paul insists that the resurrection is central to Christianity. 1 Corinthians 15:14–19, we read “and if Christ has not been raised, then our proclamation has been in vain, and your faith has been in vain. We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified of God that he raised Christ—whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised. If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile, and you are still in your sins. Then those also who have died in Christ have perished. If for this life only we have hoped in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied" (NRSV).
Love carried Christ to the cross, but the moral influence of a mere model of love is of minimal value. The crucifixion without the resurrection grants no forgiveness. But the Bible insists that this Jesus – crucified, dead, and buried – rose from the dead! Furthermore, this is the best news anyone could ever hear. The resurrection of Jesus is that kind of news: life-changing truth, which demands at least three responses from us today.
According to the gospel passage for this Easter Sunday St. John 20:1-18, we must accept the “Resurrection” because it is true: (John 20.1-10) Peter and John run to the tomb after Mary’s report of a missing body. John arrives first and stops at the short doorway. Peter plunges into the cave, John then follows. They see something surprising: the burial cloth. God provides more evidence of the resurrection: the testimonies of Jesus’ apostles, the reports of hundreds of eyewitnesses, the changed character of the disciples, and the manuscripts which offer many proofs of their historicity and reliability. We could also study how these accounts have marks of first-hand truth to the evidence of the empty tomb. View the entire short sermon.
March 17, 2024 DEEP IN OUR HEARTS
The context to the gospel passage for this Sunday St. John 12:20-33, Jesus was on His way to the cross. His public ministry was coming to a close and a variety of things were unfolding. A crowd of people from many different places had gathered for the Passover Feast. The people in the crowd had many different opinions of Jesus. The religious Jews were upset because people were following Jesus. They were plotting how they might go about killing Him. They said, “Look, how the whole world has gone after Him.”
John writes in this passage about some Greeks, Gentiles who had come to worship at the Passover, went to Philip and said, “Sir, we would like to see Jesus.” They were seekers who were sincere people but they only had limited access at the Feast. They probably approached Philip because he was from Bethsaida where there was a large settlement of Gentiles. Maybe they recognized Philip and Andrew as having Greek names who would be more receptive and less likely to snub them.
When these Greeks (Gentiles) came and requested to see Jesus, He was pleased about it because they were some of the first Gentiles who were being brought into the harvest. He considered them “first-fruits” of the great harvest of Gentiles that was to be brought into the kingdom of God. At that point Jesus explained what is about to happen at the crucifixion when He tells them, if you read the verse 24: “except a kernel of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds”. View entire short sermon.
The context to the gospel passage for this Sunday St. John 12:20-33, Jesus was on His way to the cross. His public ministry was coming to a close and a variety of things were unfolding. A crowd of people from many different places had gathered for the Passover Feast. The people in the crowd had many different opinions of Jesus. The religious Jews were upset because people were following Jesus. They were plotting how they might go about killing Him. They said, “Look, how the whole world has gone after Him.”
John writes in this passage about some Greeks, Gentiles who had come to worship at the Passover, went to Philip and said, “Sir, we would like to see Jesus.” They were seekers who were sincere people but they only had limited access at the Feast. They probably approached Philip because he was from Bethsaida where there was a large settlement of Gentiles. Maybe they recognized Philip and Andrew as having Greek names who would be more receptive and less likely to snub them.
When these Greeks (Gentiles) came and requested to see Jesus, He was pleased about it because they were some of the first Gentiles who were being brought into the harvest. He considered them “first-fruits” of the great harvest of Gentiles that was to be brought into the kingdom of God. At that point Jesus explained what is about to happen at the crucifixion when He tells them, if you read the verse 24: “except a kernel of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds”. View entire short sermon.
March 10, 2024 NO MATTER WHAT
In the Holy Gospel appointed for this Sunday St. John 3: 14-21, our Lord refers to the manner in which Moses "lifted up the serpent in the wilderness." The incident to which our Lord referred is narrated in the First Lesson from Numbers 21: 4-9. The reason that Jesus saw a parallel between his own passion and the lifting up of the brazen serpent was because the conditions were the same. Whether it was Jesus who said it, or John the writer of the gospel editorialized about it, the fact is that "God so loved the world that he gave his only Son so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life."
The problem is that the world is perishing as surely as the Israelites were dying of poisonous venom. That is not difficult to see. Yet we are stuck with the hard fact that all nations still go to war. We know that we have to spend enormous sums to maintain a defense posture. Yet we have not found ways to make it just as emergent to fight the enemies of hunger, famine, and injustice all over the world. The world sows the seeds of its own destruction. Evil and demonic leadership shows us how people prefer to live in the bondage to their own desires rather than to live for the sake of others.
Another condition which is the same as that of the time of the children of Israel in the desert is that the world is in the dark. In his gospel John writes, "The people loved darkness rather than light." That was the same way in which the Israelites said they preferred the days of slavery in Egypt to the freedom under God in the desert. In the same way the world is in the dark today. View entire short sermon.
In the Holy Gospel appointed for this Sunday St. John 3: 14-21, our Lord refers to the manner in which Moses "lifted up the serpent in the wilderness." The incident to which our Lord referred is narrated in the First Lesson from Numbers 21: 4-9. The reason that Jesus saw a parallel between his own passion and the lifting up of the brazen serpent was because the conditions were the same. Whether it was Jesus who said it, or John the writer of the gospel editorialized about it, the fact is that "God so loved the world that he gave his only Son so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life."
The problem is that the world is perishing as surely as the Israelites were dying of poisonous venom. That is not difficult to see. Yet we are stuck with the hard fact that all nations still go to war. We know that we have to spend enormous sums to maintain a defense posture. Yet we have not found ways to make it just as emergent to fight the enemies of hunger, famine, and injustice all over the world. The world sows the seeds of its own destruction. Evil and demonic leadership shows us how people prefer to live in the bondage to their own desires rather than to live for the sake of others.
Another condition which is the same as that of the time of the children of Israel in the desert is that the world is in the dark. In his gospel John writes, "The people loved darkness rather than light." That was the same way in which the Israelites said they preferred the days of slavery in Egypt to the freedom under God in the desert. In the same way the world is in the dark today. View entire short sermon.
March 3, 2024 BEAUTIFUL LAW
The gospel passage for the third Sunday in Lent is St. John 2:13-22, in which we read that Jesus went on a cleaning spree in the Temple. It was Passover time, the Jewish holiday that recognized the angel of death in Egypt. Jewish pilgrims came from all over to the great Temple in Jerusalem and thank God for their deliverance from slavery. Currently they are under Roman oppression, the religious leadership has been corrupted by trade and commerce.
The Jewish people who come from different parts of the country for religious observance found that the money changers had moved right into the court of the Temple. They were disobeying the spirit of the Law. To buy animals for their Passover sacrifice, the people had to convert their own currency into the local Temple coin and they were cheated by the money changers at high rates.
The sacredness of the Temple’s purpose for the people was violated. On to this scene, Jesus came, with a whip made from rope; he drove the animals and their keepers out of the courtyard. He dumped the moneychanger’s sacks. All their profits are rolled on to the floor. Jesus overturned their tables. He ordered the keepers of the animals and doves to keep out of the Temple and shouted at them “stop making my Father’s house a marketplace”!
When the people asked Jesus “give us a sign” Jesus told them to destroy the Temple and he will raise it three days. Jesus did not mean the actual building. He referred to the Temple as the place of worship of the true God. They have destroyed the covenant with Yahweh one more time. The situation was this; the temple priest needed money to renovate the building, the way they chose was to compromise the principles of their own faith. View the entire short sermon.
The gospel passage for the third Sunday in Lent is St. John 2:13-22, in which we read that Jesus went on a cleaning spree in the Temple. It was Passover time, the Jewish holiday that recognized the angel of death in Egypt. Jewish pilgrims came from all over to the great Temple in Jerusalem and thank God for their deliverance from slavery. Currently they are under Roman oppression, the religious leadership has been corrupted by trade and commerce.
The Jewish people who come from different parts of the country for religious observance found that the money changers had moved right into the court of the Temple. They were disobeying the spirit of the Law. To buy animals for their Passover sacrifice, the people had to convert their own currency into the local Temple coin and they were cheated by the money changers at high rates.
The sacredness of the Temple’s purpose for the people was violated. On to this scene, Jesus came, with a whip made from rope; he drove the animals and their keepers out of the courtyard. He dumped the moneychanger’s sacks. All their profits are rolled on to the floor. Jesus overturned their tables. He ordered the keepers of the animals and doves to keep out of the Temple and shouted at them “stop making my Father’s house a marketplace”!
When the people asked Jesus “give us a sign” Jesus told them to destroy the Temple and he will raise it three days. Jesus did not mean the actual building. He referred to the Temple as the place of worship of the true God. They have destroyed the covenant with Yahweh one more time. The situation was this; the temple priest needed money to renovate the building, the way they chose was to compromise the principles of their own faith. View the entire short sermon.
February 25, 2024 ALWAYS CLOSE
The gospel passage for this second Sunday in Lent is St. Mark 8:31-38, in verse 34 we read, “And when he had called the people to him with his disciples, he said to them, ‘Whoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.” I have read many commentaries and explanations for this verse. Some suggest this act is talking about giving up things for God.
To understand what Jesus was saying, you must first see this verse in the context of this chapter and understand the cultural context: that is, to see what the cross meant to the people in the days of Jesus. In the verses 31-33, Jesus had made it very clear that His path will lead to self-denial and suffering and to a cross. When Jesus is talking about self-denial and suffering, He’s basically calling His disciples to follow in His steps in suffering for His cause of establishing the Kingdom of God
Culturally, the cross in the days of Jesus was not pretty jewelry around their necks; rather it was an instrument of torture, suffering and death. The point is, Jesus was laying out the realities for those who aspired to follow Him. It would involve two things: First, it would require denying self. To deny yourself means to turn from self-centeredness and every attempt to orient your life by your own self-interests. It’s to follow wholeheartedly the will of God, even if it means great sacrifice and hardship.
Second, it means to take up the cross of Christ. In Jesus’ day, bearing one’s cross conjured up the sight of a condemned man forced to demonstrate his submission to Rome by carrying the crossbeam through the city to his place of execution. So, to “take up our cross” is to accept our submission to Jesus against whom we had previously rebelled.
These two requirements of discipleship signify our total allegiance to Jesus and total relinquishment of everything you have to Him. Jesus continues in verse 35, “For whoever will save his life will lose it; but whoever will lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it. 36 For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? 37 Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?” Jesus is not talking about the cost of our salvation here because salvation is free.
View the entire short sermon.
The gospel passage for this second Sunday in Lent is St. Mark 8:31-38, in verse 34 we read, “And when he had called the people to him with his disciples, he said to them, ‘Whoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.” I have read many commentaries and explanations for this verse. Some suggest this act is talking about giving up things for God.
To understand what Jesus was saying, you must first see this verse in the context of this chapter and understand the cultural context: that is, to see what the cross meant to the people in the days of Jesus. In the verses 31-33, Jesus had made it very clear that His path will lead to self-denial and suffering and to a cross. When Jesus is talking about self-denial and suffering, He’s basically calling His disciples to follow in His steps in suffering for His cause of establishing the Kingdom of God
Culturally, the cross in the days of Jesus was not pretty jewelry around their necks; rather it was an instrument of torture, suffering and death. The point is, Jesus was laying out the realities for those who aspired to follow Him. It would involve two things: First, it would require denying self. To deny yourself means to turn from self-centeredness and every attempt to orient your life by your own self-interests. It’s to follow wholeheartedly the will of God, even if it means great sacrifice and hardship.
Second, it means to take up the cross of Christ. In Jesus’ day, bearing one’s cross conjured up the sight of a condemned man forced to demonstrate his submission to Rome by carrying the crossbeam through the city to his place of execution. So, to “take up our cross” is to accept our submission to Jesus against whom we had previously rebelled.
These two requirements of discipleship signify our total allegiance to Jesus and total relinquishment of everything you have to Him. Jesus continues in verse 35, “For whoever will save his life will lose it; but whoever will lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it. 36 For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? 37 Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?” Jesus is not talking about the cost of our salvation here because salvation is free.
View the entire short sermon.
February 18, 2024 GOD’S LOVING PATHS
Lent is to be the time in which Christians remember and reflect on Jesus’ Journey to the cross. Traditionally, it is also a time to reflect on our own lives and faith to practice spiritual disciplines such as praying, fasting, and to renew our baptismal covenant as disciples. Lent is a time to consider what we need to release, which is another image of repentance. The question about the release is what do we need to let go? What has a hold on us to the degree that it keeps us from a daily awareness of the love and grace of God?
The Holy Gospel for this First Sunday in Lent is from Mark 1:9-15, a brief account of the temptation of Christ. We do not know precisely how all the temptations did come to our Lord. However, we do know that our Lord as we read in Hebrews 4:11 "in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin". What is important for us to understand is that Jesus was tempted all through his life. Of all those temptations, the most troublesome ones had to be the kind of temptation he experienced in the very beginning of his ministry. Those temptations had to do with the use of power, and they were repeated in a variety of ways throughout his ministry.
One of the traditional themes of Lent is confession and there is one place where what the church has called confession is practiced religiously. Even if we are familiar with the practice of confession in our private prayer, even if we fear the idea of making an inventory of our Christian life, it is important to know we need to confess our sins.
To follow a confession path during the season of Lent means that we spend some time in prayer reflecting on our lives as Christians. It means that if that reflection reveals some shortcoming to us, then we confess that to God. We need not fear the examination of conscience nor confession, because Jesus has already paid it all. Jesus had done that once for all, for each one of us. So, reflection and confession are not supposed to be beating ourselves over the head with guilt and shame. They are our ways of recommitting our lives to Christ each year during Lent. View the entire short sermon.
Lent is to be the time in which Christians remember and reflect on Jesus’ Journey to the cross. Traditionally, it is also a time to reflect on our own lives and faith to practice spiritual disciplines such as praying, fasting, and to renew our baptismal covenant as disciples. Lent is a time to consider what we need to release, which is another image of repentance. The question about the release is what do we need to let go? What has a hold on us to the degree that it keeps us from a daily awareness of the love and grace of God?
The Holy Gospel for this First Sunday in Lent is from Mark 1:9-15, a brief account of the temptation of Christ. We do not know precisely how all the temptations did come to our Lord. However, we do know that our Lord as we read in Hebrews 4:11 "in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin". What is important for us to understand is that Jesus was tempted all through his life. Of all those temptations, the most troublesome ones had to be the kind of temptation he experienced in the very beginning of his ministry. Those temptations had to do with the use of power, and they were repeated in a variety of ways throughout his ministry.
One of the traditional themes of Lent is confession and there is one place where what the church has called confession is practiced religiously. Even if we are familiar with the practice of confession in our private prayer, even if we fear the idea of making an inventory of our Christian life, it is important to know we need to confess our sins.
To follow a confession path during the season of Lent means that we spend some time in prayer reflecting on our lives as Christians. It means that if that reflection reveals some shortcoming to us, then we confess that to God. We need not fear the examination of conscience nor confession, because Jesus has already paid it all. Jesus had done that once for all, for each one of us. So, reflection and confession are not supposed to be beating ourselves over the head with guilt and shame. They are our ways of recommitting our lives to Christ each year during Lent. View the entire short sermon.
February 11, 2024 COMPASSIONATE COMMUNITY
When we look at the scripture passage for this Sunday, St. Mark 9:2-9, it’s all about the Blessed Hope we have in the return of Jesus. It is also the account of the transfiguration of Jesus. But the transfiguration is a preview, a foretaste of the second coming of Jesus.
The transfiguration of Jesus is an important turning point in His ministry. The three gospels Matthew, Mark, and Luke record it. What is the purpose of the transfiguration? It was more than just Jesus showing that He was God in flesh. There is an important truth: He was trying to communicate to his disciples. In this message, let’s examine the main truth, and then look at three applications of this truth.
Our main thought will be the “Transfiguration”. It is a preview of the Second Coming of Jesus: The transfiguration is like a preview of a coming attraction, a literal attraction, the second coming of Jesus Christ. Jesus took Peter, James, and John up the mountain, and they were given a front-row seat to the preview of when Jesus returns in majesty and glory. View the entire shot sermon.
When we look at the scripture passage for this Sunday, St. Mark 9:2-9, it’s all about the Blessed Hope we have in the return of Jesus. It is also the account of the transfiguration of Jesus. But the transfiguration is a preview, a foretaste of the second coming of Jesus.
The transfiguration of Jesus is an important turning point in His ministry. The three gospels Matthew, Mark, and Luke record it. What is the purpose of the transfiguration? It was more than just Jesus showing that He was God in flesh. There is an important truth: He was trying to communicate to his disciples. In this message, let’s examine the main truth, and then look at three applications of this truth.
Our main thought will be the “Transfiguration”. It is a preview of the Second Coming of Jesus: The transfiguration is like a preview of a coming attraction, a literal attraction, the second coming of Jesus Christ. Jesus took Peter, James, and John up the mountain, and they were given a front-row seat to the preview of when Jesus returns in majesty and glory. View the entire shot sermon.
January 28, 2024 POWER TO DO
In our passage for this Sunday St. Mark 1:21-28, we understand Jesus drives out the spirit of evil and fills it with a spirit of love. It was remarkable and even miraculous. The first chapter of Mark describes the start of Jesus’ ministry by John the Baptizer baptizing Jesus in the River Jordan. After his baptism Jesus was in the wilderness for 40 days, where Satan tempted him. When Jesus returned victoriously, he invited Simon, Andrew, James, and John to follow him. Jesus went into a synagogue and began to teach. The people were amazed at his teaching because he taught them with authority.
What is a synagogue? There is a basic difference between the synagogue and the Temple, as we know it today. The synagogue was primarily a teaching institution. The synagogue service consisted of only three things: (1). Prayer (2) Reading of God’s word and (3) the exposition of the word. There is no music or singing, and no sacrifice. It may be said the Temple was the place of worship and sacrifice: the synagogue is the place of teaching and instruction.
The Jewish law laid down the rules for every ten Jewish families there should be one synagogue. If a person wants to preach a new message, synagogue is the best place to preach. The synagogue had a ruler, who was responsible for administration of the service. Daily collection will be taken in cash and in kind and they are distributed to the poor by the distributor as alms. The poor were given fourteen meals per week. There was another person who was called as Minister; he was responsible for the Scripture and scrolls. The synagogue did not have a permanent preacher or teacher.
When a synagogue service is going on the ruler will call on any competent person to give the address and the exposition. That is why Jesus was able to open his ministry in the synagogue. Jesus was known to be a man with messages and for that very reason the synagogue of every community provided the pulpit. When Jesus did teach in the synagogue the whole method and atmosphere of his teaching was like a new revelation. View the entire short sermon.
In our passage for this Sunday St. Mark 1:21-28, we understand Jesus drives out the spirit of evil and fills it with a spirit of love. It was remarkable and even miraculous. The first chapter of Mark describes the start of Jesus’ ministry by John the Baptizer baptizing Jesus in the River Jordan. After his baptism Jesus was in the wilderness for 40 days, where Satan tempted him. When Jesus returned victoriously, he invited Simon, Andrew, James, and John to follow him. Jesus went into a synagogue and began to teach. The people were amazed at his teaching because he taught them with authority.
What is a synagogue? There is a basic difference between the synagogue and the Temple, as we know it today. The synagogue was primarily a teaching institution. The synagogue service consisted of only three things: (1). Prayer (2) Reading of God’s word and (3) the exposition of the word. There is no music or singing, and no sacrifice. It may be said the Temple was the place of worship and sacrifice: the synagogue is the place of teaching and instruction.
The Jewish law laid down the rules for every ten Jewish families there should be one synagogue. If a person wants to preach a new message, synagogue is the best place to preach. The synagogue had a ruler, who was responsible for administration of the service. Daily collection will be taken in cash and in kind and they are distributed to the poor by the distributor as alms. The poor were given fourteen meals per week. There was another person who was called as Minister; he was responsible for the Scripture and scrolls. The synagogue did not have a permanent preacher or teacher.
When a synagogue service is going on the ruler will call on any competent person to give the address and the exposition. That is why Jesus was able to open his ministry in the synagogue. Jesus was known to be a man with messages and for that very reason the synagogue of every community provided the pulpit. When Jesus did teach in the synagogue the whole method and atmosphere of his teaching was like a new revelation. View the entire short sermon.
February 4, 2024 SOURCE OF STRENGTH
This Sunday’s gospel passage St. Mark 1:29-39. We learn that Jesus’ preaching and healing ministry had some very profound consequences for those who received the gospel message and were healed by Jesus. This passage in Mark’s gospel gives us the opportunity to ponder the healing work of Jesus. In the Mark gospel, approximately one-third of it is composed of Jesus’ healing miracles. For Mark, Jesus often combines his words with his works and his actions. This passage reminds us that the ministry of Jesus preaching the gospel and healing people of all manner of illness and disease caused by sin and evil.
I believe that we, particularly as Christians need to take the healing ministry of Jesus more seriously. It is no accident that in the New Testament Greek, the word “to heal” also means “to save.” Jesus saves people through healing them of physical, mental, emotional, and other diseases and illnesses. In doing so, Jesus is demonstrating the power of God and of the gospel to the world.
In the Bible, healing is the symbol of redemptive grace and a manifestation of God’s love. Healing and salvation are constantly associated. In Jeremiah. 17:14 we read “Heal me o Lord, and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall be saved; for thou are my praise.” In I Kings 8:37-39, When Solomon, having completed the building of the Temple, is addressing to God his magnificent prayer of consecration, he asks God to comfort them with His blessing in all their troubles - calamity, disease, and sin…
Jesus performs His miracles of healing in order to relieve the suffering of those who appeal to Him, but He always performs them in order to show forth God’s power as well. When Jesus sends his disciples two by two as we read in Luke 9: 2 “He set them out to preach the kingdom of God and to heal.” The gift of healing played a large part in the primitive church. We read in I Corinthians 12: 9 “to another faith by the same Spirit to other gifts of healing by the one Spirit.” View the entire short sermon.
This Sunday’s gospel passage St. Mark 1:29-39. We learn that Jesus’ preaching and healing ministry had some very profound consequences for those who received the gospel message and were healed by Jesus. This passage in Mark’s gospel gives us the opportunity to ponder the healing work of Jesus. In the Mark gospel, approximately one-third of it is composed of Jesus’ healing miracles. For Mark, Jesus often combines his words with his works and his actions. This passage reminds us that the ministry of Jesus preaching the gospel and healing people of all manner of illness and disease caused by sin and evil.
I believe that we, particularly as Christians need to take the healing ministry of Jesus more seriously. It is no accident that in the New Testament Greek, the word “to heal” also means “to save.” Jesus saves people through healing them of physical, mental, emotional, and other diseases and illnesses. In doing so, Jesus is demonstrating the power of God and of the gospel to the world.
In the Bible, healing is the symbol of redemptive grace and a manifestation of God’s love. Healing and salvation are constantly associated. In Jeremiah. 17:14 we read “Heal me o Lord, and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall be saved; for thou are my praise.” In I Kings 8:37-39, When Solomon, having completed the building of the Temple, is addressing to God his magnificent prayer of consecration, he asks God to comfort them with His blessing in all their troubles - calamity, disease, and sin…
Jesus performs His miracles of healing in order to relieve the suffering of those who appeal to Him, but He always performs them in order to show forth God’s power as well. When Jesus sends his disciples two by two as we read in Luke 9: 2 “He set them out to preach the kingdom of God and to heal.” The gift of healing played a large part in the primitive church. We read in I Corinthians 12: 9 “to another faith by the same Spirit to other gifts of healing by the one Spirit.” View the entire short sermon.
January 21, 2024 FOLLOW ME
In the gospel text for this Sunday St. Mark 1:14-20, we find a statement about a radical discipleship. It needs to be pointed out at the beginning, this reading is the most compact and compressed statement of the gospel expressed anywhere in the New Testament. New Testament scholars point out, in these few verses, Jesus' role as an authoritative, compelling, charismatic preacher is defined; the fruit of the gospel message is expressed. For Peter, Andrew, James, and John the meaning of Discipleship is the result of seeing Jesus and hearing his message is well described.
The word in verse 18, "immediately" captures our attention. Jesus called Simon Peter, Andrew, James, and John, and immediately they left their nets and followed him. They abandoned their nets, their boats, and their livelihood. They walked away from their old life, their old ways of doing things, their kindred and family.
Accepting the discipleship is taking a risk. This is a radical and bold move on the four fishermen's part. Why? Why did they do it? It appears that their response is simply and exclusively based on the power of Jesus' personality and message. The call of Jesus is so strong in their lives that all the burdens of their old lives are abandoned; their boats and nets, their families, their old life, and old ways of doing things are abandoned. Immediately, they make this radical move to become disciples of this charismatic preacher.
We must keep in mind that one of the purposes of Mark's gospel is to help us understand what it means to be a disciple of Jesus of Nazareth. This Jesus of Nazareth is radical, new, and different. He is preaching to the poor and the dispossessed in Galilee who cannot afford the price-of-living in Jerusalem. What are his career prospects? The chances appear rather clear that he will end up like his cousin John the Baptist, facing both prison and death. View the entire short sermon.
In the gospel text for this Sunday St. Mark 1:14-20, we find a statement about a radical discipleship. It needs to be pointed out at the beginning, this reading is the most compact and compressed statement of the gospel expressed anywhere in the New Testament. New Testament scholars point out, in these few verses, Jesus' role as an authoritative, compelling, charismatic preacher is defined; the fruit of the gospel message is expressed. For Peter, Andrew, James, and John the meaning of Discipleship is the result of seeing Jesus and hearing his message is well described.
The word in verse 18, "immediately" captures our attention. Jesus called Simon Peter, Andrew, James, and John, and immediately they left their nets and followed him. They abandoned their nets, their boats, and their livelihood. They walked away from their old life, their old ways of doing things, their kindred and family.
Accepting the discipleship is taking a risk. This is a radical and bold move on the four fishermen's part. Why? Why did they do it? It appears that their response is simply and exclusively based on the power of Jesus' personality and message. The call of Jesus is so strong in their lives that all the burdens of their old lives are abandoned; their boats and nets, their families, their old life, and old ways of doing things are abandoned. Immediately, they make this radical move to become disciples of this charismatic preacher.
We must keep in mind that one of the purposes of Mark's gospel is to help us understand what it means to be a disciple of Jesus of Nazareth. This Jesus of Nazareth is radical, new, and different. He is preaching to the poor and the dispossessed in Galilee who cannot afford the price-of-living in Jerusalem. What are his career prospects? The chances appear rather clear that he will end up like his cousin John the Baptist, facing both prison and death. View the entire short sermon.
January 14, 2024 KNOWN AND LOVED
The Old Testament passage for this Sunday, I Samuel 3:1-20, is about the story of Samuel. I love the story of young Samuel apparently sleeping in the sanctuary. Some years before, his mother Hannah had brought him to Shiloh in fulfillment of a promise she had made to God before the boy was ever born - as a woman who had been unable to have children, she promised God that if she were to be granted that privilege, she would return the child to divine service. She was as good as her word - Samuel was born, and as soon as he was able to make it on his own, she brought the lad to the High Priest Eli. After all, Samuel was only hers for a little while; Samuel was on LOAN from the Lord.
It was not the best of times for the people of Israel, but not the worst either. There were no wars going on, no threats from hostile neighbors, although the Philistines were always looming nearby. The nation was not the unified whole it would come to be, but rather still a loose confederation of tribes. Religiously, no new ground was being broken.
In fact, it seems that the faith that had sustained the people through centuries of slavery, the exodus from Egypt, a generation of wilderness wandering, and finally settlement in the promised homeland, was now reduced to the routine. As the text has it in verse 1, "The word of the LORD was rare in those days; visions were not widespread." Sounds unnervingly familiar, does it not? Because even to this day people are waiting for the word of God to come to them.
Now we find Samuel. He is asleep in the sanctuary, apparently his assigned position near the Ark of the Covenant. A voice comes in the early morning darkness: "Samuel...Samuel." The boy assumes it is Eli calling...no one else is there. Eli has called like this before - he is old, nearly blind; he needs help getting around. So, rubbing sleep from his eyes, the boy goes into the old man and says, "Here am I. You called?"
Just as sleepily, the aging priest turns over on his palate and says, "No, I didn't. Go back to sleep." So, the boy turns, goes back through the curtain, and lays down again. But now the call comes again and again: "Samuel!" You can imagine the perplexed look that comes over the child's face. He comes back to Eli, not quite so sleepily now. He was still awake from the first visit. "You called?"
The third time Samuel ran to Eli and asked, "You called?" Samuel must have thought Eli was playing a game with him, but it was certainly a strange time of the night for games. But by now, Eli knows to whom the voice belongs. He turns that old gray head and those age-dimmed eyes to the boy Samuel and says, "No, I did not call. Go back and lie down. But if the voice comes again, say, 'Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.'"
Now the boy's mind is racing a mile a minute. What could the Lord want with him? He had never heard of anyone else being called this way. So, with a little shrug of the shoulders, it is back to bed again. And sure enough, a fourth time it comes: "Samuel...Samuel!"
"Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening." And the rest, as they say, is history. The young boy who met God in the sanctuary responded to the divine call and went on to become Yahweh's messenger to Israel...ranking in the eyes of the faithful with Moses and Abraham. Have you anytime recognized the voice of God and said Lord Speak to me for I am listening. God will speak to us in many ways, if you would like to learn more about how to listen to the voice of God, please join us in our worship on Sundays at 11:00 AM.
The Old Testament passage for this Sunday, I Samuel 3:1-20, is about the story of Samuel. I love the story of young Samuel apparently sleeping in the sanctuary. Some years before, his mother Hannah had brought him to Shiloh in fulfillment of a promise she had made to God before the boy was ever born - as a woman who had been unable to have children, she promised God that if she were to be granted that privilege, she would return the child to divine service. She was as good as her word - Samuel was born, and as soon as he was able to make it on his own, she brought the lad to the High Priest Eli. After all, Samuel was only hers for a little while; Samuel was on LOAN from the Lord.
It was not the best of times for the people of Israel, but not the worst either. There were no wars going on, no threats from hostile neighbors, although the Philistines were always looming nearby. The nation was not the unified whole it would come to be, but rather still a loose confederation of tribes. Religiously, no new ground was being broken.
In fact, it seems that the faith that had sustained the people through centuries of slavery, the exodus from Egypt, a generation of wilderness wandering, and finally settlement in the promised homeland, was now reduced to the routine. As the text has it in verse 1, "The word of the LORD was rare in those days; visions were not widespread." Sounds unnervingly familiar, does it not? Because even to this day people are waiting for the word of God to come to them.
Now we find Samuel. He is asleep in the sanctuary, apparently his assigned position near the Ark of the Covenant. A voice comes in the early morning darkness: "Samuel...Samuel." The boy assumes it is Eli calling...no one else is there. Eli has called like this before - he is old, nearly blind; he needs help getting around. So, rubbing sleep from his eyes, the boy goes into the old man and says, "Here am I. You called?"
Just as sleepily, the aging priest turns over on his palate and says, "No, I didn't. Go back to sleep." So, the boy turns, goes back through the curtain, and lays down again. But now the call comes again and again: "Samuel!" You can imagine the perplexed look that comes over the child's face. He comes back to Eli, not quite so sleepily now. He was still awake from the first visit. "You called?"
The third time Samuel ran to Eli and asked, "You called?" Samuel must have thought Eli was playing a game with him, but it was certainly a strange time of the night for games. But by now, Eli knows to whom the voice belongs. He turns that old gray head and those age-dimmed eyes to the boy Samuel and says, "No, I did not call. Go back and lie down. But if the voice comes again, say, 'Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.'"
Now the boy's mind is racing a mile a minute. What could the Lord want with him? He had never heard of anyone else being called this way. So, with a little shrug of the shoulders, it is back to bed again. And sure enough, a fourth time it comes: "Samuel...Samuel!"
"Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening." And the rest, as they say, is history. The young boy who met God in the sanctuary responded to the divine call and went on to become Yahweh's messenger to Israel...ranking in the eyes of the faithful with Moses and Abraham. Have you anytime recognized the voice of God and said Lord Speak to me for I am listening. God will speak to us in many ways, if you would like to learn more about how to listen to the voice of God, please join us in our worship on Sundays at 11:00 AM.
January 7, 2024 DEFINING MOMENTS
The gospel passage for this Sunday St. Mark 1:4-11 we read John the Baptist advises us some important things that pertain to our faith.
First is the path of faith that leads us to confession or repentance. John the Baptist's message came as a shock to those who heard it. They expected to hear the message of God's return, His vindication for His People and His Judgment against all the pagan nations. People expected to hear a message praising the people of God while at the same time condemning all the Gentile nations.
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John the Baptist’s message is one that we need to hear today. We too are at a time when it appears that things on the surface are okay but we all sense that there is something wrong. We have more books published about how to live as a disciple of Jesus and yet as a Body of Christ we are experiencing more division, more divorce and more distorted thinking than ever.
There is a growing spirit of putting up walls instead of building bridges. There is a growing spirit of casting out those who don't think like us, live like us, or appreciate our values. There is a growing spirit of being at war with our enemies and those of other faiths. There is a spirit of anger and malice towards those who do not agree with us or join in our causes.
This is not the way of Jesus nor is it the way of His disciples. Yes, Jesus does not want us to compromise or to believe that anyone else, but He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. That is a given. That's solid. But instead of walls we must begin to build bridges of love. We need to go to war on our knees in prayer for them to see the Light and to receive Our Lord Jesus as their Savior and LORD. We need to quit worrying about being politically correct or incorrect and be people of prayer, the Word and Holiness. View the entire short sermon.
The gospel passage for this Sunday St. Mark 1:4-11 we read John the Baptist advises us some important things that pertain to our faith.
First is the path of faith that leads us to confession or repentance. John the Baptist's message came as a shock to those who heard it. They expected to hear the message of God's return, His vindication for His People and His Judgment against all the pagan nations. People expected to hear a message praising the people of God while at the same time condemning all the Gentile nations.
----------------------
John the Baptist’s message is one that we need to hear today. We too are at a time when it appears that things on the surface are okay but we all sense that there is something wrong. We have more books published about how to live as a disciple of Jesus and yet as a Body of Christ we are experiencing more division, more divorce and more distorted thinking than ever.
There is a growing spirit of putting up walls instead of building bridges. There is a growing spirit of casting out those who don't think like us, live like us, or appreciate our values. There is a growing spirit of being at war with our enemies and those of other faiths. There is a spirit of anger and malice towards those who do not agree with us or join in our causes.
This is not the way of Jesus nor is it the way of His disciples. Yes, Jesus does not want us to compromise or to believe that anyone else, but He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. That is a given. That's solid. But instead of walls we must begin to build bridges of love. We need to go to war on our knees in prayer for them to see the Light and to receive Our Lord Jesus as their Savior and LORD. We need to quit worrying about being politically correct or incorrect and be people of prayer, the Word and Holiness. View the entire short sermon.