Let’s face it: we’ve all seen people who aren’t considered the height of beauty. Some of you may even look at yourselves in the morning and remember days gone by when your skin was smooth, glowing brightly with life and vigor. But now, you may feel as if your skin is sallow and dry, the […]
Matthew 15:21-28: Even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table
March 8, 2015 by
Did you ever feel that God has ignored your prayers, not by answering “no,” but by taking no notice of them? If so, then today’s Gospel is for you. Have you ever felt that God has treated you in a cold or cruel way, allowing you to experience so much pain in this life? If […]
1 Corinthians, Lesson 11: Celibacy—More Than What You Think
February 28, 2015 by
Like last week, we still find ourselves within a flow of thought taking place within a chiasm: A 7:1-16 Sex relating to those who are or have been married . B 7:17-24 Being content in your callings A’ 7:25-40 Sex relating to those not now married This week, we look at remaining in […]
Isaiah 48:17-22: Flee!
February 25, 2015 by
Last week, on Ash Wednesday, we heard God call Himself “your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.” And that’s where our Old-Testament reading for today begins: “The Lord, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.” But then God gets wistful and reminisces. We hear Him speak some of the saddest words in any language: “You […]
How We Got the Old Testament
February 23, 2015 by
This is our pastor’s newsletter article for our March 2015 edition of our newsletter. In it, he leaves much out to keep the article a usable length. So, the article is not “bullet proof,” but it does, on the main, cover why the Old Testament contains the books that it does. ———- In this article, we’ll explore how […]
Genesis 3:1-21, Matthew 4:1-11: Jesus Succeeds where Adam Failed
February 22, 2015 by
Can you believe it? The serpent attacks, not through brute force, but through words. And Adam just stands there. He doesn’t say or do anything. He just stands there next to Eve as the serpent twists the truth. Did you catch that in our Old-Testament reading? After Eve tasted the forbidden fruit, she gave some […]
1 Corinthians, Lesson 10: Remaining with God Wherever You Are
February 22, 2015 by
We still find ourselves within a flow of thought that takes place within a chiasm: A 7:1-16 Sex relating to those who are or have been married . B 7:17-24 Being content in your callings A’ 7:25-40 Sex relating to those not now married The main point Paul is making is to be content where […]
Ash Wednesday Sermon: What’s the deal with being a worm?
February 22, 2015 by
When you read through the Scriptures, you may find something that, at first, seems odd. But then, as you make your way through more books of Scripture, you start to see a pattern. At first, it’s a phrase here, and then a phrase there. What was, at first, an odd turn of phrase then becomes […]
1 Corinthians, Lesson 9: Marriage and Divorce; the Gift of Celibacy and Sexuality
February 22, 2015 by
Paul still continues to deal with the topic of sexuality, but now within the context of marriage. We find that 1 Corinthians chapter 7 is in a chiastic structure: A 7:1-16 Sex relating to those who are or have been married . B 7:17-24 Being content within one’s vocation A’ 7:25-40 Sex relating to those […]
Matthew 17:1-9: Jesus’ Glory
February 22, 2015 by
A chapter before today’s Gospel reading, we hear Peter tell Jesus that He is “the Messiah, the Son of the living God” (Matthew 16:16). And “from that time, Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer much… be killed, and be raised on the third day” (Matthew 16:21). And […]
