March 20 Sermon: Crying Stones
What was the mission of Jesus? This is a question that comes to us front and center as we think about Palm Sunday and continue our journey to Easter. In both lessons this morning we see the expectation of a coming king yet we need to ask an important question. Was Jesus the type of king the people were looking for as he entered Jerusalem? That should also prompt a question within ourselves. As we embark towards Good Friday and Easter what are we expecting Jesus to be? What kind of a king are we looking for?
March 6 Sermon: New Creations
This morning we are gathered here to worship God. We have come together as his covenant people as we do each and every week. Worship is a very important part of the Christian life. We get out of bed on Sunday morning for a reason. We are responding to the grace of God and being reminded of just how much we are in need of God and his grace. In both our Old and New Testament lessons this morning we see what is that God has done for his people and we see what our response to that good news should be.
February 28 Sermon: Higher Than Your Ways
Seek the Lord while he may be found; call on him while he is near. This is the cry of the prophet Isaiah in our Old Testament lesson this morning and it is the message we see in our gospel lesson from Luke this morning also. A common theme throughout this season of Lent is to Return to the Lord your God for he is gracious and merciful. Slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. This idea of repentance is important as we journey towards the cross of Good Friday and the empty tomb of Easter.
February 21 Sermon: Credited as Righteousness
What makes the Christian faith so unique is the way in which God comes to us. Instead of our ascending to God by our own effort God comes down to his creation. In his grace and mercy God does the work to set his people free and he keeps his promises to them. In our Old Testament lesson this morning we see how God came near to Abraham and made a covenant with him and how that covenant points us to the work of Jesus Christ for us.
February 7 Sermon: Astonished at the Majesty of God
Our God is a God of covenants. He comes to his people and makes a way for them to know who he is and to have access to him and his glory. These promises made by God show us His desire to be in communion with his people. In both our lessons this morning we see how God delivers his covenant to his people.
As we start out in our Old Testament lesson this morning it is important that we do a little background work. I don't believe I've mentioned the three most important rules for Biblical interpretation from the pulpit here yet, but I am certain you will hear them from me on multiple occasions.
January 31 Sermon: For His Word was with Power
Our God is a God who has the power to uproot and overthrow. He has the power to build and to plant. Just as he did at the beginning of creation he does this by the power of His word. In both our Old and New Testament lessons this morning we see how God speaks and has authority over his creation and all powers that would oppose him.
As we dig into our Old Testament lesson this morning, we see the word of the LORD coming to Jeremiah. Jeremiah was the son of a priest and was himself going to be a priest. Being a priest was a family business. He was born in the city of Anathoth, a city set aside specifically for the priestly families. We see that God has different plans for Jeremiah though.
January 24 Sermon: Fulfilled in Your Hearing
Our God is a God who rescues his people. He does not leave them on their own but instead comes to us and shows us who he is. We see this God not only in the majesty of his creation but also in his word and in the person and work of Jesus Christ. God's rescue of his people is not done from afar but instead he comes near to us and delivers us. In both of our scripture lessons this morning we see this God and the love and mercy he shows to us.
January 17 Sermon: And His Disciples Believed in Him
The grace of God is amazing. It is vast and rich but it is also surprising. The way that God shows us grace is not really what we expect. We haven't earned it. It isn't what we deserve and yet God shows up and does something new in us. In both our Old and New Testament lessons this morning we see God’s mercy and love shown to us and we see how Jesus works to bring us new life.
January 10 Sermon: Getting Wet
As the children of God, we are part of a covenant community. We have union with Christ, but we also have union with one another. This connection to our Lord and to one another is important because it reminds us that we are a called and forgiven people whose identity is not rooted in ourselves but instead rooted in who Christ proclaims us to be in the gospel. In our New Testament lesson this morning we see how Christ fulfilled all righteousness to bring us to himself.