The Work of the Spirit
The Work of the Spirit Pentecost Acts 2:1-21 May 23, 2021 John 15:26-27; 16:4b-15 The book I want to highlight today is called The Hiding Place. It’s a true story about the amazing things God did with Corrie ten Boom during the Nazi occupation of Holland. Corrie and her family had been hiding Jews so that they wouldn’t be sent off to concentration camps (or extermination camps, as they turned out to be). When they were caught, they were…
While We Wait
While We Wait 7th Sunday of Easter Acts 1:1-11 ———- May 16, 2021 ———– Luke 24:44-53 Last week, I shared an excerpt from one of the Chronicles of Narnia, The Voyage of the Dawn Treader. This week, I will share some snippets from the book that kicked off the whole series, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. The author was an Oxford professor named C. S. Lewis. Although the book was written for children, adults responded to it in…
The Wide Family of God
The Wide Family of God ———–Mothers’ Day ————–6th Sunday of Easter Acts 10:44-48 —————May 9, 2021—————-John 15:9-17 Today’s story comes from the pen of C. S. Lewis, from his book called The Voyage of the Dawn Treader. One of the main characters is described in the opening sentence: “There was a boy called Eustace Clarence Scrubb, and he almost deserved it.” He is described as an annoying, spiteful, friendless know-it-all who gets dragged into Narnia with his cousins (who had been there before). …
The First to Love
The First to Love 5th Sunday of Easter 1 John 4:7-21 May 2, 2021 John 15:1-8 The story I want to share with you today is my favorite from Leo Tolstoy. His title is Where Love Is, God Is but you might know it as “Martin the Cobbler.” It’s about an older man whose home and shop were in the basement, and he had one window looking out on the sidewalk. He was able to recognize his…
In the Name of Jesus Christ
In the Name of Jesus Christ 4th Sunday of Easter Acts 4:5-12 ———– 1 John 3:16-24 ———- April 25, 2021 ———- John 10:11-18 A few weeks ago, it was Easter Sunday. We celebrated the resurrection, and were reminded that we are “Easter People.” William Willimon explains it this way: “Resurrection is not just something that happened to dead Jesus. Resurrection is also something that happens to the dead followers of Jesus! Easter keeps happening, as Jesus keeps talking to us, keeps revealing and…
A Peek into the Kingdom
A Peek into the Kingdom ————- 3rd Sunday of Easter ———— April 18, 2021 Acts 3: 12-19 ———— Luke 24: 36b-48 Today, I am starting a series of sermons in which I use a story written by one of my favorite authors—folks like George MacDonald, C. S. Lewis, and Leo Tolstoy. (We’ll see who else shows up as we move along!) I am choosing stories that will come alongside the Scriptures for the day, illustrating the point, and perhaps making…
Recovering Believers
Recovering Believers 2nd Easter Psalm 133 April 11, 2021 John 20:19-31 Back in 1935, a man suffering from alcoholism was told that there was no medical cure—and then he was encouraged to find a spiritual means to sobriety. He sought out others who might be able to help—and Alcoholics Anonymous was born! Using a 12-step program, AA helps people face their situation with honesty, integrity, as well as mutual encouragement and support. It has spawned thousands of chapters, as well…
Real Life (In a Nutshell)
Real Life (In a Nutshell) —– Easter Day —– April 4, 2021 Acts 10: 34-43 —– 1 Corinthians 15: 1-11 —– John 20: 1-18 It wouldn’t surprise you, would it, if I told you that our culture is always in a hurry? People travel to other places where the pace is slower—and they come back and talk about how it took awhile to get used to the lack of hurry, but they eventually came to enjoy it. But then they…
Washing Feet
Washing Feet ——– Maundy Thursday ——– April 1, 2021 ——– 6:30 PM Psalm 116: 1-4, 12-29———John 13: 1-17, 31b-35 Those of you who are teachers understand the challenges of trying to convey a body of knowledge or a principle. Parents face this challenge with their children; customer service representatives have the same challenge when trying to inform a customer; anyone hoping to convey information to another person understands the limits of our language. Jesus is perhaps the best-known teacher the…
The Humble King
The Humble King—–Palm Sunday Zechariah 9:9-10—–March 28, 2021—–Mark 11: 1-11, 14: 1-9 When I was a little kid, I used to have a fantasy that I would someday become King of the World. As King, I would send out people to hunt down an older kid who had been bullying me so much that I didn’t want to go to school. And, when they brought this kid before me, forcing him to kneel in humble submission, I would look down…
A New Covenant
A New Covenant—–5th Sunday in Lent Jeremiah 31: 31-34—–March 21, 2021—–John 12: 20-33 Being a PARENT is full of surprises! I always imagined myself teaching my kids—passing on wisdom and understanding and humor and insight. But, you know what?! My kids (and other people’s kids) have taught me! Today I want focus on one of the things that parenting has taught me about God. Here it is in a nutshell: God is our loving Father; in love, God carefully lays…
To Save, NOT Condemn
To Save, NOT Condemn—–4th Sunday in Lent Psalm 107: 1-3, 17-22—–Ephesians 2: 1-10—–March 14, 2021—–John 3: 14-21 When I was about 7 years old, I was playing over at a friend’s house. We were out in the shop with his dad, who was puttering around with an engine. My friend showed me something really cool—a miniature branding iron that he had made by bending a piece of wire into a shape. He heated up the brand part in a little…