One to Rule Them All

Scripture: 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 reading

Crumbs for Dogs

Isaiah 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 reading

With a Gentle Spirit

Deuteronomy 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 reading

The Hunger Games

John 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 reading

Beauty of the Table

Proverbs 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 reading

Beware what you wear!

Ephesians 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 reading

Christ is Our Unity

Exodus 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 reading

Plenitude

2 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

The world is God’s temple

2 Samuel 7:1-14a David is not the one to build God’s house Ephesians 2:11-22 You are holy citizens, members of God’s household Mark 6:30-34, 53-56 Jesus teaches from a boat and heals the sick. How do we honour God? David wanted to honour God by building God a temple, a

Continue reading

Pure of Heart

Matthew 5:8 Pure in Heart1 John 3:1-3, 18-24 Love in truth and action. Come and hear the following proclamation: the power and purity of the spirit cannot be surpassed to provide us with the best wisdom and advise us to deal with small or big and urgent problems. However, we

Continue reading