Sermon
Sunday Worship April 5, 2020
As Jesus approached Jerusalem for the Passover Festival, crowds of people shouted and sang, "Hosanna to the Son of David!" "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord."
Hosanna is a Hebrew word calling to be saved or rescued. The crowds proclaimed Jesus the savior from God. To need a savior is to admit that we need help, that we can't do it ourselves.
In Philippians 4:6-7 the Apostle Paul writes, "Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
We can bring our requests before God, the one who is bigger than our problems, but the real blessing is to pray with thanksgiving, not just need and anxiety.
In the midst of our anxious times, we asked people from the congregations to share some of the things they were thankful for. It is our prayer that it will encourage all of us to give thanks to God.
March 22, 2020 "Stepping into the Storm" - Matthew 14:22-33
Matthew 14:22-33 (NRSV)
Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat, started walking on the water, and came toward Jesus. But when he noticed the strong wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!” Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?” When they got into the boat, the wind ceased. And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”
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March 15,2020 "Growth Spurts" - Ephesians 1:1-2, 15-23
Note: This is one part of several weeks of sermons from this passage. The sound of the audio will abruptly shift several times in the recording to amplify and clarify as several people speak from the congregation extemporaneously.
Ephesians 1:1-2, 15-23(NRSV)
To the saints who are in Ephesus and are faithful in Christ Jesus:
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
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I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, and for this reason, I do not cease to give thanks for you as I remember you in my prayers. I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation as you come to know him, so that, with the eyes of your heart enlightened, you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance among the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power for us who believe, according to the working of his great power. God put this power to work in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the age to come. And he has put all things under his feet and has made him the head over all things for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.
"In the Same Way" - 1 Peter 3:1-9
A quick note:
As a white man I have approached this sermon, and the one from the previous week, with a deep appreciation that I do not know what it is like to live as a descendant of the legacy of slavery or a woman, in a world where the effects of the evils of slavery, racism, and misogyny are present and real. In the end, God did not listen to my excuses and dragged me, despite my best efforts, to confront these texts. In the end, God revealed to me that the profound message of these passages is very different than the abusive ways they have been used against others. I pray that our congregation, and others who stumble upon this sermon, might be similarly blessed.
Yours in Christ,
Paul
1 Peter 3:1-9(NRSV)
Husbands, in the same way, show consideration for your wives in your life together, paying honor to the woman as the weaker sex, since they too are also heirs of the gracious gift of life—so that nothing may hinder your prayers.
Finally, all of you, have unity of spirit, sympathy, love for one another, a tender heart, and a humble mind. Do not repay evil for evil or abuse for abuse; but, on the contrary, repay with a blessing. It is for this that you were called—that you might inherit a blessing.
Sermon Audio
You can find a more complete sermon archive on our podcast page:
Amazing Wine/Ordinary People - John 2:1-11 January 12, 2014
John 2:1-11(NRSV)
Dusty Deity - John 1:1-18 December 29, 2013
John 1:1-18(NRSV)
The Gift of a Second Chance - Matthew 3:1-11 December 8, 2013
Repentance gets a bad rap. All to often we treat repentance as something that "those" other people need to do; something to say while we wag our finger scolding them.
Instead, repentance is an opportunity of grace offered to the world. The need to repent and the opportunity to repent are both present in Jesus' birth, cross, and promised return.
Matthew 3:1-11(NRSV)
Expecting the Unexpected - Matthew 25:36-44 December 1, 2013
At Christmas we celebrate the coming of Jesus as the baby born in Bethlehem. As an adult, shortly before his crucifixion, Jesus speaks of his return in power and glory and warns us to be ready. The coming of the Son of Man will catch many by surprise. We should expect it to be unexpected.
All of us have things in our life that we "should have done" and "would have done" if we knew more or knew the consequences. The season of Advent is an opportunity to take Jesus at his word and to live expecting his coming return and thereby also preparing to celebrate the reality of his birth.
Give Thanks - Philippians 4:4-6 November 24, 2013
Thankfulness is both the result of as well as the means of God opening our eyes.
For some reason most of us treat thankfulness as either a form of denial of problems or something we will only experience when we get what we want. Instead, God invites us to be thankful even in the midst of difficulty and loss. Thankfulness is not the denial of difficulty, it is living and experiencing truth in all the ups and downs of life.
Philippians 4:4-6 (NRSV)
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.