by Shelly | Jul 5, 2024 | Sermons
Sharing Jesus message with trust in the Spirit Jesus does great deeds of power and gives his disciples authority over demons. Yet none of this power is unilateral; it all must be received by faith. Jesus asks his disciples to go out without money or supplies, so that...
by Shelly | Jun 28, 2024 | Sermons
Jesus commends faith in healing A woman finds healing by touching Jesus’ cloak, and a girl is restored to life when he takes her by the hand. In both cases a boundary is crossed: in Jesus’ time the hemorrhaging woman was considered ritually unclean, polluting others...
by Shelly | Jun 19, 2024 | Sermons
Trust in Christ’s power to calm storms Now is the acceptable time; now is the day of salvation! Now we are in the storm, the boat almost swamped; but Jesus is here now, and when we call him, he will calm the storm. Even the wind and waves listen to him as they...
by Shelly | Jun 13, 2024 | Sermons
God nourishes the smallest seed to become a mighty shelter The mustard seed becomes a great shrub that shelters the birds, recalling ancient images of the tree of life. We’d expect a cedar or a sequoia, but Jesus finds the power of God better imaged in a tiny,...
by Shelly | Jun 6, 2024 | Sermons
Created to share grace A house divided against itself cannot stand. Jesus makes this observation in light of charges that he is possessed. He is possessed, not by a demon, but by the Holy Spirit. We who have received the Holy Spirit through baptism have been joined to...
by Shelly | May 31, 2024 | Sermons
Sabbath to rest and refocus Deuteronomy makes clear that sabbath-keeping is meant for the welfare of all. God delivered the Israelites out of slavery, so they should observe this freedom with a day of rest. No one should work seven days a week; even slaves and...
