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...
by Shelly | May 21, 2024 | Sermons
The power and intimate closeness of our One God When we say God is the triune God, we are saying something about who God is beyond, before, and after the universe: that there is community within God. Our experience of this is reflected in Paul’s words today. When we...
