... difference between being religious and knowing God? We ask this only because of the experience of devout believers like St. Paul and John Wesley and many, many other devoted saints down through the ages who came to a point in their lives when they realized ... this enormous debt by his master refuses, however, to forgive the much smaller debt owed him by his fellow servant (Matthew 18:23-35). After Jesus explains that his followers must forgive each other from their hearts, the cast sings a beautiful prayer ...
... because when it finally sinks into us that God loves us, we not only change our minds about God but about ourselves. John Calvin was a forebear of our Presbyterian approach to the Bible and the Christian faith. Basically he said in his gigantic Institutes ... us, and listening to us. He hears our pains and sees our problems, problems maybe we’ve had since we were eight, or 18, or 28. But he sees beyond them. He gazes into our soul and glimpses this wonderful child God created, able to enjoy the world ...
... he would not believe until he could touch the wounds of Jesus, melted at the sound of his voice. His voice was enough to banish all need to prove by the other senses. This empowering voice of peace reaffirms the promise Jesus had made in John 17:18: “As you have sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world.” The “shalom alekem” Jesus’ voice offers both comforts and empowers. It gives the disciples the courage both to unlock their doors, open their windows, and it empowers them to ...
... me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free . . .” (Luke 4:18). When he gazed out over Jerusalem, he wept. He knew the heartaches, the headaches, and the hungers that go with being human ... compassionate Christ is their hope. William Booth knew that when he took his Salvation Army out to the homeless people of his time. John Wesley knew that when he began preaching in open fields to those to whom the established church had closed its doors. Mother ...
... . Have you seen any female Roman Catholic priests yet? Man: No, and with Pope Benedict, I don't expect to see any. I agree with Pope John XXIII, however, and even more with Daniel Defoe who said in 1697 that "Woman… is the glory of her maker." That is why I'm glad ... . Anita Shreve says that "women now resemble male workers in the strength of their commitment to the workplace…" (p. 18). They have increasing social ties to the workplace and identify themselves more in terms of their career goals and monetary ...
... often went off by himself for a time of prayer. This time he took three of his closest disciples with him--Peter, John and James. Together they went up onto a mountain to pray. And while they were on that mountain, something dramatic happened. Luke tells ... the New Testament. Once is here in Matthew 17:2, for the Transfiguration of Christ, and the other is in 2 Corinthians 3:18, where Paul describes the transformation of believers into the image of Christ. Morpho refers to an inner change that is lasting and ...
... the scholars battle that out. One day we’ll know for certain. But the imagery is quite extraordinary and quite beautiful as well. John has a vision in which he sees a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation and every tribe and many ... down, and lo, I will make you a well-adjusted personality.’ That isn’t God’s church. Don’t forget that Bethlehem was just 18 miles from Calvary. You’ve got to go by Calvary.” Peter Marshall, former chaplain of the U.S. Senate and one of the ...
... she believes is Pope,” Friday, March 24, 2000, pg. A12. Cited by The Rev. Douglas C. Hoglund, http://www.woodside-church.org/files/sermons/Sermon%20pdfs/Its%20Your%20Serve.pdf. 2. http://www.providenceumc.org/files/mediaArchive/15/s_101224.pdf. 3. With John Dominic Crossan, The Last Week (New York: HarperCollins, 2006). Cited by Dawn Hutchings, https://pastordawn.com/2013/03/18/marching-in-the-wrong-parades-a-palm-sunday-sermon/. 4. The Rev. Marek Zabriskie, http://day1.org/5721-everyone_loves_a_parade.
... but may have eternal life." You can still occasionally see a person seated behind the goalposts at a football game holding up a placard saying "John 3:16." Maybe it does some good. Some people may be able to say they have found God by simply saying "I believe." They may ... Professor Harold de Wolf, in his book The Religious Revolt Against Reason (New York: Harper and Brothers, 1949, pp. 17-18), tells of an experience that describes the panic of people who lose their point of reference. He went swimming one ...
... and we still don't always avoid the bad things we know we should avoid. We're still looking to the future, as Romans 8:18-19 says, "I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. The creation waits in ... look to him for healing and teaching. In keeping with our gospel text, a good first step is to acknowledge our own blind spots. As 1 John 1:8-9 remind us, "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess ...
... with his shoe. Then he rubbed the cross out and walked away. The enemy guard was a follower of Jesus. That’s why he had risked his life to help John McCain. McCain wrote, “For just that moment I forgot all my hatred for my enemies, and all the hatred most of them felt for me. I forgot about . . . the ... &Itemid=28. 5. http://www.yateschurch.org/clientimages/41513/sermons/2011-12-18%20streams%20in%20the%20desert.pdf. 6. Copyright Jon M. Walton, 2003. http://jonwalton.org/sermons/2003/031221.htm.
... here this evening. I hope you realize what a special event this is. I read about an event that took place on Sunday, July 18, 2010 in Ruhr, Germany. On that date one of the busiest highways in Europe became what some called “the longest table in the world.” ... gathered for their Last Supper together. The evening meal was in progress, says John in his gospel, and the devil had already prompted Judas to betray Jesus. Then John tells about a portion of that evening’s festivities that the other gospels ...
Matthew 9:27-34, Matthew 9:35-38, Matthew 12:15-21, Matthew 12:22-37, Matthew 12:38-45, Matthew 12:46-50
Sermon
Lori Wagner
... the Coming Restoration Isaiah 42: The Lord’s Servant in Whom God’s Spirit Dwells Mark’s Witness to Jesus accused of beelzebul (3:20-3:35) Luke’s Witness to Jesus accused of beelzebul (11:14-11:36 AND 8:19-21) John’s Witness to Jesus as Lord (5:18-5:47) Acts 7: Stephen’s Speech about Loyalty to Jesus and his Subsequent Stoning Matthew’s Witness [After Jesus began healing on the Sabbath, forgiving sins, and casting out demons], the Pharisees went out and conspired against him. When Jesus became ...
... is raised by merely coming into contact with Elisha’s bones (13:20-21) Matthew’s Witness to Jesus’ Healing Power at Jairus’ Home (9:18-9:26) Luke’s Witness to Jesus’ Healing Power at Jairus’ Home (8:40-8:56) and at Nain (7:11-15) Peter heals ... Only believe, and she will be saved.” When he came to the house, he did not allow anyone to enter with him, except Peter, John, and James, and the child’s father and mother. They were all weeping and wailing for her; but he said, “Do not weep; for ...
John 8:48-59, John 9:1-12, John 9:13-34, John 9:35-41, John 10:1-21
Sermon
Lori Wagner
... the mud Psalm 103: He remembers, we are dust Psalm 139: You formed me in the womb The Potter and the Clay (Jeremiah 18) The Potter (Isaiah 29:16) The Cleansing of the Heart by God (Ezekiel 36:24-27) Mark’s Witness to Jesus’ Healing of Blind Man (8 ... ) Paul’s Eyes are Blinded and then Opened on the Damascus Road (Acts 9) Romans: The Potter and the Clay (9) John’s Witness to Jesus’ Healing of a Man Born Blind With Clay and Saliva Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw ...
... (Luke 10:38-42) Minor Text The Distraction of the Tower of Babel (Genesis 11:1-9) Abraham’s Three Holy Visitors (Genesis 18) Esau’s Distraction With His Hunger (Genesis 19:34) Jacob Dreams of God and Realizes “Surely the Lord is in This Place and ... Martha a lesser disciple? No! She was one of Jesus’ cherished disciples and friends, as was Lazarus, and Mary. The scriptures in John tells us, Jesus LOVED these siblings. It’s the only time we hear that Jesus loved any particular people. These were some ...
... around an operating table. Gatherings around a sick bed. Gatherings around a courtyard. And when one of your own –or even another—is in need of care…..we in the church gather round. Wherever you gather…wherever two or more are gathered…Jesus is there. (Matt 18:20) John Wesley knew this. That’s why he told his preachers to go out into the places no one else wanted to go, gather around the lonely, the lost, the hurting. Jesus is already there. He is in the midst of the wounds of the world, ready ...
... become living stones in God’s eternal kingdom. And the SON is God’s cornerstone, the stone of the Father, as Jesus tells us in John’s gospel. Jesus is the foundation. David had no doubt in the power of God. So much so that he declined the weapons of this ... Matthew 9:27-9:38 and 12:15-12:50; Mark 3:20-3:35; Luke 11:14-11:36 and 8:19-21) Jesus is Lord (John 5:18-5:47) Stephen’s Speech About Loyalty to Jesus and His Subsequent Stoning (Acts 7) Image Exegesis: “One Ring to rule them all.” One Stone to ...
... he promised our ancestors.” Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months and then returned home. Mary’s Story (Matthew 1:18-25) This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to ... Son would be called Son of Man. The Song is not only one of praise, but one of prophecy. Like Zechariah’s prophecy at the birth of John, Mary’s Song praises not just what God has already done, but what God will soon do! How many of us spend time praising God for what ...
... ultimate sweet feast! When Jesus agreed in John’s account to serve up the wine ... John 2:1-12) The Lord Will Prepare a Feast (Isaiah 25:6-9) Minor Text The Creation Story –the Third Day (Genesis 1) Moses First Miracle Turns Water to Blood (Exodus 7:14-21) Honor the Lord with First Fruits (Proverbs 3:9-10) Psalm 104: The Lord Gives Water The Lord Has Made Proclamation (Isaiah 62) Again You Will Plant Vineyards (Jeremiah 31:1-14) The Mountain Will Drip with New Wine / The Time Has Come (Joel 2:15-24; 3:17-18 ...
John 20:10-18, Song of Songs 4:1-16, Revelation 22:1-6
Sermon
Lori Wagner
... Throne Isaiah’s Song of Zion’s Salvation (51) Ezekiel’s Vision of the Temple and Rivers of Water, Fruit Trees, and Abundance (47) Jeremiah’s Prophecy of the Redemption of Israel (31) Jesus’ Parable of the Mustard Seed (Matthew 13:31-32; Luke 13:18-19) John’s Witness to Jesus (the Living Water) with the Woman at the Well (4) Paul’s Witness to Paradise (2 Corinthians 12) Garden of Love How beautiful you are, my darling! Oh, how beautiful! Your eyes behind your veil are doves. Your hair is like ...
... before faith came, we were kept in custody under the law, being shut up to the faith which was later to be revealed.” (3:23) And John witnessed too: “When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said, ‘Do not be ... One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.” (Rev 1:17-18) And as we read today in Acts 5:17-25, even the bars of prisons could not hold the disciples from their life-giving mission. No lock ...
Some of you will remember that, on April 18, 2006, a new word entered our lexicon when President George W. Bush made a comment referring to himself as “the ... . But baptism is a public act. A communal act. In our Bible passage today, it says that “the whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem” came out to hear John preach a baptism of repentance. There was no privacy in that crowd. When you choose to be baptized, or to have your children baptized, you are making a public declaration that ...
... . As Christians we are called to evangelize the world and tell them of God’s love according to the great commission (Matthew 28:16-18). Mary had a deep abiding happiness in God. Do we? As God’s servant, Mary’s song is one of glorifying God (Luke 1:46 ... life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us…And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ” (1 John 1:1-3 NIV). Second, it was through the birth that this plan continued. We read it in Luke’s account when the angel ...
... all those years ago. His baptism is still my baptism of faith in what God has done for me through Jesus Christ. When John baptized Jesus it was a visible, outward sign signifying that the word may become our own experience. This is what I believe baptism ... them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28:18-19 NIV). The fellowship of believers is to be engaged in the life of the community. We are not to withdraw from the world we ...