Sermons, Lectures, & Teachings
Honoring the past context for God’s word.
Understanding the current relevance for God’s word.
Living in the future hope of God’s word.
Holding Up the Mirror: Finding Ourselves in the Easter Story | Luke 19:28-42
This message explores the story of Palm Sunday through the lens of a mirror and challenges us not to assume we are "good soil." It invites us to hold up a mirror as we examine the four characters of the familiar Palm Sunday passage and see where we find ourselves.
Sabbath: Worship | Genesis 2:2-3
But in our final teaching, we come to what is arguably the most important of all four–the Sabbath is a day for worship. Now, where does this idea come from? Let’s read one last time from Genesis 2…'On the seventh day God had completed his work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done. God blessed the seventh day and declared it holy, for on it he rested from all his work of creation. ' Genesis 2:2-3, CSB
Sabbath: Stop | Exodus 20:2-11
Flip through any popular magazine, scroll on your favorite social media app, or watch any commercial on your free streaming service and you will see all sorts of advertisements–a couple drinking coffee and reading the morning newspaper in bed, a man lounging on the couch playing the guitar, a group of friends on the beach for a picnic… What exactly are they selling? They are selling sabbath.
Divorce & What Jesus Really Says | Matthew 5:31-32
Jesus clarifies both the law and the practice of divorce. He addresses the misplaced allegiance & displaced loyalty of his audience, redirecting their focus from the law to creation’s intent. He peels back the veil of obligatory obedience to black-and-white laws to emphasis loyalty. And Jesus pushes us to see people as sacred, to see people as image bearers not objects for our discard.
Salt & Light | Matthew 5:13-16
And then Jesus reminds the people that they are a people of covenant, which is a sacred agreement between them and God himself. He starts this reminder with:“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt should lose its taste, how can it be made salty? It’s no longer good for anything but to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet.” Matthew 5:13 CSB
The Shepherd’s Guidance | Psalm 23:2-3
Advent leads to more, however, than the celebration of Christmas Day. Yes, we celebrate the newborn babe Jesus who was born in that lowly stable, surrounded by animal feed and manure. Even moreso, we celebrate the arrival of our Shepherd, the one who leads us, once we are willing to declare, as Robert pointed out last week, “The Lord is my shepherd.“