by Shelly | Oct 20, 2021 | Sermons
God is present, listening, and ready to heal Can we pray the way Bartimaeus prays? People try to hush him up because by addressing Jesus as “Son of David” he is making a politically dangerous claim that Jesus is the rightful king. Could our prayers ever be heard as a...
by Shelly | Oct 15, 2021 | Sermons
God’s leaders as models for love Today’s gospel starts with disciples obsessing over who will be closest to Jesus, leading to Jesus teaching his followers about God’s take on importance and power. Here Jesus makes it explicit that the reversal of values in God’s...
by Shelly | Oct 7, 2021 | Sermons
God’s laws are intended for love The rich man who comes to ask Jesus what he should do to inherit eternal life is a good man, sincere in his asking. Mark’s gospel is alone in saying that Jesus looked on him and loved him. Out of love, not as judgment, Jesus...
by Shelly | Sep 29, 2021 | Sermons
God’s laws are intended for love Today’s gospel combines a saying that makes many of us uncomfortable with a story we find comforting. Jesus’ saying on divorce is another of his rejections of human legislation in favor of the original intent of God’s law. Jesus’...
by Shelly | Sep 23, 2021 | Sermons
God’s work of love done differently Being open to new Someone who isn’t part of Jesus’ own circle is casting out demons in Jesus’ name, and the disciples want him stopped. They appeal to Jesus, as Joshua did to Moses about the elders who prophesied without...
by Shelly | Sep 10, 2021 | Sermons
Faith like a child Humility and service as the path to “greatness” Today we hear James warn against selfish ambition, while the disciples quarrel over which one of them is the greatest. Jesus tells them the way to be great is to serve. Then, to make it...
