Jesus Confronts Shame
The Second Sunday in Lent February 25, 2018 Mark 8:31-38 Jesus Confronts Shame He then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again. He spoke plainly about this, and Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. But when Jesus turned and looked at his disciples, he rebuked…
Jesus’ Confrontation with Satan
The First Sunday in Lent February 18, 2018 Mark 1:12-15 Jesus’ Confrontation with Satan At once the Spirit sent him out into the desert, and he was in the desert forty days, being tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals, and angels attended him. After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good…
The Transfiguration — A Promise of What’s to Come!
Transfiguration Sunday February 11, 2018 Mark 9:2-9 The Transfiguration— A Promise of What’s to Come! After six days Jesus took Peter, James and John with him and led them up a high mountain, where they were all alone. There he was transfigured before them. His clothes became dazzling white, whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them. And there appeared before them Elijah and Moses, who were talking with Jesus. Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good…
Remember, O LORD, that My Life is But a Breath!
The Fifth Sunday after Epiphany February 4, 2018 Job 7:1-7 Remember, O God, that My Life is But a Breath! Does not man have hard service on earth? Are not his days like those of a hired man? Like a slave longing for the evening shadows, or a hired man waiting eagerly for his wages, so I have been allotted months of futility, and nights of misery have been assigned to me. When I lie down I think, “How…
Temper Your Freedom with Love!
The Fourth Sunday after Epiphany January 28, 2018 I Corinthians 8:1-13 Temper Your Freedom with Love! Now about food sacrificed to idols: We know that we all possess knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up. The man who thinks he knows something does not yet know as he ought to know. But the man who loves God is known by God. So then, about eating food sacrificed to idols: We know that an idol is nothing at…
Proclaim the Message I Gave You!
The Third Sunday after Epiphany January 21, 2018 Jonah 3:1-5, 10 Proclaim the Message I Gave You! Then the word of the LORD came to Jonah a second time: “Go to the great city of Nineveh and proclaim to it the message I give you.” Jonah obeyed the word of the LORD and went to Nineveh. Now Nineveh was a very important city—a visit required three days. On the first day, Jonah started into the city. He proclaimed: …
Come and See!
The Second Sunday after Epiphany January 14, 2018 John 1:43-51 Come and See! The next day Jesus decided to leave for Galilee. Finding Philip, he said to him, “Follow me.” Philip, like Andrew and Peter, was from the town of Bethsaida. Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” “Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?” Nathanael…
It’s 2018– Are You Ready?
New Year’s Eve December 31, 2017 Luke 12:35-40 It’s 2018— Are You Ready? “Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning, like men waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him. It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when he comes. I tell you the truth, he will dress himself to serve, will have…
Come, Lord Jesus…to Fulfill God’s Promises!
The Fourth Sunday in Advent December 24, 2017 2 Samuel 7:8-16 Come, Lord Jesus…to Fulfill God’s Promises “Now then, tell my servant David, ‘This is what the LORD Almighty says: I took you from the pasture and from following the flock to be ruler over my people Israel. I have been with you wherever you have gone, and I have cut off all your enemies from before you. Now, I will make your name great, like the names of…
Come, Lord Jesus…to Set Us Free!
The Third Sunday in Advent December 17, 2017 Isaiah 61:1-3, 10, 11 Come, Lord Jesus…to Set Us Free! The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to…