Ashes to Fire #13: “A Great High Priest”Text: John 17:20-26In looking at this portion of the “High Priestly Prayer of Jesus,” we are reminded that on the night Jesus was betrayed, He prayed for US. The contents of that prayer inform the way in which we ought to live together as the Church, and the…
Ashes to Fire #12: “Not Afraid”Text: John 14:23-29The Holy Spirit. Peace. Be Not Afraid. These promises of Jesus are so intertwined that it’s hard to tell where one ends and the next begins. When we truly understand the power and presence of the Holy Spirit, made available to all people for all time, then we…
Ashes to Fire #11: “Love Like Jesus”Text: John 13:31-35In light of the New Covenant established on the night that Jesus was betrayed, we need to take a serious look at the New Commandment given by Jesus – to love others as Jesus loves us. This sort of love is to be the defining hallmark of…
Ashes to Fire #10: “In the Arms of the Shepherd”Text: I Thessalonians 5:1-11; John 10:22-30; Psalm 46Following the tragic events of this week, Pastor Jon considers the “illusion of security” that we sometimes cling to. The texts today remind us that we can’t find “peace and safety” in our government, economy, military, or anything else…
Ashes to Fire #9: “Under Construction”Text: John 21:1-19We recognize that we are often like Jesus’ disciples: even if we don’t deny Him like Peter, or betray Him like Judas, we are often like the others – silent, doubting, confused, scattered, and afraid. And like the seven disciples in today’s lesson, we sometimes return to “business…
Annual Meeting: “Now Thank We All Our God”Text: I Corinthians 3:5-9; Luke 17:11-19Before we rush ahead into the “New Thing” that God is doing, it’s important to return to the Savior, praising Him for what He has done, is doing, and is going to do. In his Annual Report, Pastor Jon highlights some of the…
Ashes to Fire 7: “Breaking the Chains”Text: I Corinthians 15:20-26; Isaiah 65:17-25; Luke 24:1-12Pastor Jon explores the imagery of bondage throughout scripture and literature, considering the ways in which Christ breaks the chains of injustice, sin, and death. Easter reminds us that Christ has already defeated the last enemy, death itself. In so doing, we…
Ashes to Fire #6: “Not a Rock”Text: Luke 19:28-40As we explore the themes of the Triumphal Entry, we are confronted with the question of whether we accept Jesus on His terms, or attempt to define Him to meet our own expectations. Did the “Hosannas” fade because the road was too tough… the cross too difficult……
Ashes to Fire #5: Prodigal Mary John 12:1-11In a Gospel Lesson full of literary devices, we consider the ways in which Mary’s lavish gift helps us to give of ourselves fully to our Lord. Our extravagant worship should always be in response to our understanding that God has given everything for us.
Ashes to Fire #4: “Embraced by Grace”Text: Luke 15:1-2, 11-32Victor Hugo provides a powerful way to look at the characters in today’s Gospel lesson. From Les Miserables, the characters of Javert and Valjean help us to understand the lives of the elder and younger son in the parable of the Prodigal Son. One has been…