Scripture: Joel 2:21-27 My people shall never again be put to shame Psalm 126 A harvest of joy Matthew 6:25-33 Look at the birds of the air Sermon: Trustworthy PlenitudeJesus enjoins us to trust, like the birds of the air and the lilies of the field. From scripture we hear
Continue readingScripture: Jeremiah 11:18-20Jeremiah’s life threatened James 3:13-4:3Harvest of righteousness Mark 9:30-37Who is the greatest? Sermon: Including YouIt was outrageous the way Jesus welcomed anyone and everyone, even the outcast, and even women and children. He had a way of holding everyone in full respect — even you. And that is
Continue readingScripture: Isaiah 50:4-9a The Servant’s Humiliation and Vindication Mark 8:27-38 Peter’s declaration and rebuke Sermon: One to Rule Them AllPeter cannot understand how the Messiah can be crucified. Messiah is bound for victory, not defeat — bound to rule. But Jesus shatters his preconceptions. And with that begins centuries of
Continue readingIsaiah 35:4-7a The Return of the Redeemed to Zion Psalm 146 Praise for God’s Help Mark 7:24-37 Healing Among the Gentiles James 2:1-10, 14-17 Faith without works is dead Sermon: Crumbs for Dogs Imagine being a Gentile woman, hearing about this prophet among the Jews, feeling drawn to go to
Continue readingDeuteronomy 4:1-2, 6-9 a wise and discerning people Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23 Jesus challenges the tradition James 1:17-27 welcome the word planted in you Sermon: With a Gentle SpiritIn the tradition of the prophets, Jesus challenges religious practice that lacks heart. It is the difference between external “going through the
Continue readingJohn 6:56-69 “To whom can we go? You have the words of eternal life.” Ephesians 6:10-20 Put on the whole armour of God. Psalm 34: 15-22 The Lord redeems his servants There has been a trilogy of books called the Hunger Games which are very popular with youth and adults
Continue readingProverbs 9:1-6 Wisdom has built her house John 6:51-58 The bread that came down from heaven In John’s gospel, Jesus offers his body and blood to his followers as a way to let his life and presence live in them. And of course we too would have Christ live in
Continue readingEphesians 4:25-5:2 Do not let the sun go down on your anger Psalm 34:1-8 Taste and See that the Lord is good John 6:35, 41-51 I am the bread of life In Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, we are being called to take off our protective armour of anger, bitterness,
Continue readingExodus 16:2-4, 9-15 Manna in the wildernessEphesians 4:1-16 Unity in the body of ChristJohn 6:24-35 Bread from heaven In the Ephesians reading, Paul raises the question of Christian unity and finds the answer in Christ as “head of the body”. Similarly, in the John reading, Jesus, engaging the “works and
Continue reading2 Kings 4:42-44 Feeding the crowdJohn 6:1-15 Jesus feeds five thousand peopleEphesians 3:14-21 strength in your inner being The word “plenitude” is part of the language of paradise, of the beauty and joy of life. But it appears to us only if we choose to see it, because there is
Continue reading