What we need is to get to know Jesus as the friend he said he is to us. Jesus is with us in suffering, and in the good times. [i] “The Virtue of Anger” in Oneing: An Alternative Orthodoxy. There is always more Jesus there! Now we know better. (Mark 14:26-29) But he did. She would gradually unfold all the layers of her responsibility. We were pretty tight. 1988. God made you to feel most alive when you are working and playing together in harmony. Because God is behind it, and in it, and with us here and now. And it just keeps coming and coming. Much better to stand together before the faith we confess in the creed, to peer into the Scriptures and the wonders of this amazing world God has created, and to be awed by what we see. It seems that we become like our friends. We can be more selective, with the help of the Holy Spirit. It goes as far as it has to go to be with the beloved. I don’t recall a lot of the details, but I’ll never forget how it felt. God is sovereign and all-knowing and has used the Bible to communicate with us. Suffering is the inevitable result. 4202 Gwynne Rd. We often talk about the dangers of living in the past, but living in the future can be a problem too. There is a movement among young adult musicians to change the way of thinking among the people of their country. He is no ordinary man; he is the Son of God. Which sounds a lot like one of Jesus’ most mysterious and beloved teachings about the kingdom of God, the Beatitudes: blessed are the poor, the meek, those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, those who long for things to be made right. If we take a step back and look at our busy lifestyle, will we see that it has become not only a default way of surviving, but almost a religion? That number would big much bigger, right? Arguments against the church and faith itself keep appearing in ever more creative guises. His only hope was that his own church had volunteered to run the shelter, so Ed knew that at least it would be done well. We had borrowed an old Suburban from my in-laws to use as one of the vehicles. This cannot be allowed! The sacrifices the people were busy with in the temple were sacrifices God had requested of the people, and we can find their origins in the Old Testament. I probably don’t have to convince you that we don’t do well as church. Well, I think I do have an answer for that one. you who afflict the righteous, who take a bribe, and push aside the needy in the gate.” (Amos 5:12). “Bobby and I each lightly placed a hand on his back as he gently sobbed and a roomful of strangers returned him to himself. But the goal is to grow up together, to be mature in our relationships. Listen to how Paul continues: “But we have this treasure in clay jars, so that it may be made clear that this extraordinary power belongs to God and does not come from ourselves.” If God uses people like ourselves, folk who aren’t chosen because we have attained the pinnacle of human virtue and success—nay, if God can choose even those of us who turn away from God, who are right when we say we aren’t worthy, then God can work with anyone. Our hearts are also filled with gratitude, as the writer of Ephesians says, “giving thanks to God the Father at all times and for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”. Would the light return this time? Once again Jesus is simply there, but this time he is smiling and peaceful, looking at you quizzically as if to say, “Well, what do you think?” You look at the other disciples with wide eyes, speechless. The people witness Jesus performing a miracle, and it is seen and discussed as a sign of who he is, as wells as a concrete expression that somehow reveals God to us. He wants everyone to follow him so that they will be loved and protected. You wanted a new pastor so badly, but you refused to push the search committee to work faster, and they did their work as patiently and faithfully as possible. Let’s pray: Thank you God for providing everything we need. It might take some intention, some personal discipline to cultivate this shift in your awareness. See, the open hands that Jesus extended to his disciples were wounded hands. It appears in John 3, where we find the verse that is so beloved, John 3:16. It is about the expansive, anything-is-possible life as God’s beloved, who loves those whom God loves and cares about what God cares about. Those who listened to Jesus and stayed with him had their ideas about God turned upside down by his message, by the way he embodied God’s expansive grace. Love one another. The God who is with us in every storm, both able and eager to calm our spirits in the midst of them. Resurrection power, given to us! And we end up acting as though we speak on God’s behalf. (Mt 3.11, Lk 3.16, Mk 1.8). We like to say that in effective groups, “the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.” It is never more true than in the church when we are aligned with Jesus Christ our head. Boy, don’t I know it. It was a lot for Jesus’ friends to comprehend. Sermons for Year B. Sculptures that look like a person or an animal make sense to us, but abstract art can make us scratch our heads. Your feet have served you and many other people well. I could ask for a show of hands from all those who have been divorced, but I won’t. There was a correct way of doing it, with the hands in a certain position, the water flowing the right way, etc. Do we need a wake-up call? He showed up two days after Lazarus’ funeral. But all of these people also went through suffering. It might be easier than explaining the mystery of the Trinity. We are saints now because even though we weep at times, we are weeping with Jesus who loves us and lives in and through us. And then on yet another restless night, he suddenly knew the secret. I didn’t really have to go. It is important to understand this. They usually followed a formula something like this. I have used Weight Watchers in the past as my nutritional filter, with good results. Trusting God is part of that, a big part in fact. The pendulum swings back and forth with matters of faith as much as anything else. They did not realize it when Jesus was walking in their midst. He saw how they had to run to keep up with adult strides, arms pulled almost out of their sockets. The usual dangers did not faze them. You know you should eat healthier foods, but then you get in a hurry, and a cheeseburger and fries take ten minutes to buy and eat. God has shown us that we are loved, and our circumstances have no voice in that statement of truth. If they are, then our souls are taking in…what? Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Close or ESC key Search Tips. Jesus may have been teasing him a bit when he said, “I saw you under the fig tree before Philip called you.” That’s no basis for knowing someone. What does it say about God’s love for us? Real life, eternal, meaningful life is not about being “good.” It is about believing God’s love is for you, and then surrendering everything in your life to his control, his authority, his purpose for you. We are supposed to know God’s way that is different from the culture around us. Terrible symbolism, but that’s what it was like back then. Scripture Focus: Acts 2:2. Wandering off is very, very easy to do. I usually like mine with a lot of peanut butter and just a little grape jelly. I’ll close with a few steps you can take in your sojourn with weakness. Maybe that will motivate you to confess your sin, if nothing else will. Years ago I learned how to “map” a Scripture passage, noticing all the repetitions of ideas, the connections between thoughts, and so on. This is the life of faith we celebrate with little Nate this morning. We know that God is here with us, in our boat. They try to give you an experience. Let’s just say that his body had been altered so that he could be trusted around women in the royal household. Paul likes to use the image of the body when he writes to the churches in Rome and Corinth too. e An AAPB (An Australian Prayer Book, 1978) reading; In response, legislator Abraham Davenport stood up and declared, “Mr. It is Sabbath time that allows our cares to be dealt with and God’s peace to hold sway. Oh, you can’t help but laugh sometimes. They matter as long as they drive us back to the question of the gospel, the question of love. Then there is the “shield of faith.” Shields are sturdy, very good defense when we need it most. We take our roads for granted, but they are an amazing blessing. Thanks be to God. The Collect. Most likely Mark’s purpose was to demonstrate who Jesus is. I’ll read you the translation of his report. It was a way to deal with sin. We have a ministry! This is reported as Jesus’ last miracle before his own death. But the church family is even bigger! In our Bible story, Jesus says he is the true bread from heaven. Are we giving him all that we have and all that we are, or are we giving him the leftovers? We are humble and patient because that is what he is like. One wonders how many people were aware of the invisible world inhabited by a God for whom there is no barrier to this world, but the barrier seems impenetrable from our side. They jumped to a conclusion, thinking that Jesus’ ability to sleep through a storm meant that he didn’t care about them. There is business to do in the church, in other words. No matter what happens, we know that God loves us. We have all visited graves of relatives or maybe famous people. Never step outside the lines, or get too close to them. The Rev. Goodness in caring for the world God made for us to enjoy and to pass on to our children. Having traveled in the region where the Dougnons live, I could appreciate her answer. And I haven’t been to church in months.”. The first person, we call them persons instead of parts, is God the Father who created all things. We respond to the one who calls us to life today, just as he called Lazarus from his tomb. They need love. They need to fit properly for the task. He became a human being whom John the Baptist called the “Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.”. If we’re going to send the kids on a mission trip to Mexico, we’d better start baking cookies. This is not any easier than training for Olympic competition. The other passengers and I waited in the shade while local men showed up to pitch in. But we need more than abstract ideals to shoot for. All of the other wants and wishes masquerade as needs, but our hearts know the truth. Enough already! Now does that seem fair to you? It didn’t mean “save us” any more. I never thought it would get off the ground, I have to admit. So many people have reached out to me with offers to help update Textweek, but I will need to have the site in a form that I can part out pages for others to work on. The Revised Common Lectionary was produced by the Consultation on Common … ‘Please,’ she said. Try to put yourself in the disciples’ place. He is first in line to give up his right to superiority, and he invites us to do the same. But no, he gushes, “He will be great AND WILL BE CALLED THE SON OF THE MOST HIGH!” “Throne of David…his kingdom will never end…Holy Spirit will come upon you…Son of God…Elizabeth is also going to have a child…”. One of the devices John uses is to describe “signs” Jesus performs which evoke a response of confusion or curiosity about Jesus. We had only two days left to savor the warmth and beauty of the island, and we intended to make the most of it. It was in 2 Timothy 3:12—“Indeed, all who want to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.” Okay. Acknowledge the desolations—words, actions, thoughts, or anxieties that drew you away from God. That he is with us in the flesh and blood of every day’s circumstances. Proper 7 (June 19-25) Texts: Mark 4:35-41; 2 Cor 6:1-13; Job 38:1-11 NOW IS THE TIME FOR THE COSTLY GRACE OF DISCIPLESHIP Behold, now is the right time! The One who created us didn’t settle for communicating through prophets and signs. Well, when you think of it, what do you want your life to count for? This is the life that is truly life, free of striving and bitterness and selfishness. Case closed! Even in people you have written off. But—thanks be to God!—Jesus came and walked among us as a human too, and shows us the way through it. Let’s pray: Thank you God for creating us to be curious creatures. Very, very cautious. It’s part of how we grow. You are a seed even when you do your work with joy, as unto the Lord, because it is a gift to God from a faithful steward. And, besides other things, I am under daily pressure because of my anxiety for all the churches. They were displayed on those crude, deadly stakes planted at intervals alongside the road, so they could not be missed. God’s love light has come into the world, and the darkness cannot overcome it. It is God’s response to people in all kinds of need. Not impossible if the seeds God has planted are spread abroad, embedded in receptive soil and given the time and care they need to bear fruit for God. His name was Aylan Kurdi. Out of the mist—you can’t tell which direction it is coming from; it seems to be all around you—there comes a voice unlike any other. Nathanael did see more. Something was missing. Rise from the dead? To those who scramble to be first, he tells them to aspire to something even greater: to receive a child in his name. If they are releasing people from the bondage of demons , bravo! But we are often afraid of the anger itself, so we push it away, deny it, or call it something else. That was considered perversion back then, whether his condition was his choice or not. Do we ask people to be busy instead of being transformed? The trouble is, serving is a pain. It needs a community to give it shape, and that community is us. We see the one who said, “Do your worst. Herod could have done the right thing and saved John’s life. The Lectionary, Year B sermon series will help you prepare impactful sermons to preach at your church. site. We use many of the same words, sing some of the same hymns, use the same colors on the altar, use the chalice and offering plates your parents used.
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