14-May-23 1 Peter 2:18-25 We do not like slavery. The very idea of it is repulsive to us. It is inconceivable to us that one person could own another human being. To us, that is the most basic violation of human rights imaginable. This becomes especially true when we realize, that as followers of Jesus, […]
Category: Epistles
Good News For Exiles
23-Apr-23 1 Peter 1:3-5 Third Sunday In Easter May grace and peace be yours in abundance! Last week we began our sermon time, and ended it, for that matter, with a wonderful greeting for our fellow exiles and refugees on this planet. This week we begin with a wonderful greeting for God. “Blessed be the […]
Christ Died for the Ungodly
12-Mar-23 Romans 5:6-11 Third Sunday in Lent In this passage, the Apostle Paul, freely, gladly, and without any apology at all, uses four rather uncomplimentary terms to describe what we were like before we gave our lives to Jesus Christ. They are not nice, they are not pleasant, and they are completely offensive. And there’s […]
The Beginning of a Long Tradition
22-Jan-23 1 Corinthians 1:10-19 They weren’t paying much attention to the gospel. Instead, they’d gotten themselves wrapped up into a fight. I suppose we could say that this was the beginning of a very long and inglorious tradition. Churches have been fighting for over two thousand years, now, and in spite of what the Apostle […]
God Is Faithful
15-Jan-23 1 Corinthians 1:1-9 There are days when my sincere desire is to end it all in the same way that the Apostle Paul had hoped to end it. He looked forward, with deep and eager anticipation, to our Lord’s return, and he believed, with all of his heart that he would witness that return […]
Strengthen Your Hearts
11-Dec-22 James 5:7-11 Third Sunday in Advent It’s all about hanging in there, isn’t it? It’s all about Jesus coming back, and it is all about being patient while we wait. But waiting for something is always difficult, isn’t it? It’s hard work. And sometimes, it’s scary; like when we are awaiting the results of […]
Coming Together for the Glory of God
04-Dec-22 Romans 15:1-7 Second Sunday in Advent It has been said that church is the only place that we willingly and joyfully and regularly go, where we will interact, fellowship, worship and do ministry with people that we would ordinarily have no other reason to associate with*. I’m totally convinced that this is one of […]
The Beginning Is Nearer
27-Nov-22 Romans 13:11-14 First Sunday in Advent This year, as we gathered around the Thanksgiving table it was very obvious to us that the passing of time had taken its toll. Around that table was a brand new generation. It was not the kind of brand new generation that is represented by small children, or […]
This is Jesus
20-Nov-22 Col 1:15-20 All of us have images in our minds of Jesus that we keep and cherish. And, as our observance and celebration of Christmas gets closer and closer, and at a fairly rapid pace, I might add, some of those images in our minds will be switching over to a little boy in […]
A Thorny Struggle
30-Oct-22 II Corinthians 12:1-10 The Apostle Paul is in deep trouble with the folks who call themselves followers of Jesus and who live in the city of Corinth. They don’t like him anymore, and maybe they never did. Paul’s popularity in Corinth has plummeted severely. The Apostle Paul was the one who brought faith in […]
