Living Water – November 9, 2008

Our Living Water Texts: Psalm 78:1-4, 12-16; Matthew 21:23-32; Philippians 2:1-13; Exodus 17:1-7; Ecclesiastes 3:10-11; Isaiah 55:8-9; Numbers 20:6-13 Pastor Jon considers the lessons that we can learn from the “Water from the Rock” stories in Exodus 17 and Numbers 20. Sometimes we miss God’s hand at work because we lack an eternal perspective. Sometimes…

Our Daily Bread – November 2, 2008

Our Daily Bread Texts: Psalm 105:1-2, 37-45; Matthew 20:1-16; Philippians 1:21-30; Exodus 16:1-30 In looking at the story of the manna in the wilderness, Pastor Jon encourages us to trust in God for our daily needs. By looking at pictures from “The Hungry Planet,” Pastor Jon expands our perspective to understand what it might mean…

Love Has the Final Move – October 12, 2008

Love Has the Final Move Texts: Psalm 46:1-3, 10-11; Romans 14:1-12; Matthew 18:21-35; Exodus 14:19-31; Revelation 18:11-16 Juxtaposing the text from Exodus against the various riders in Revelation reminds us that though our back may seem up against a wall, though we may be at the end of our rope, and though it feels like…

The Church as the Chosen People of God – October 5, 2008

The Church as the Chosen People of God Texts: Psalm 24; Exodus 19:1-6; Matthew 5:43-48; I Peter 2:1-11 Today we celebrate 100 years of the Church of the Nazarene. Pastor Jon reminds us that we don’t celebrate a denomination, but the movement of God through His people. As the Church, we are part of the…

The Church as the Temple of God – September 28, 2008

The Church as the Temple of God Texts: Psalm 84:1-4, 10-12; I Kings 8:23-30; John 2:13-22; Ephesians 2:19-22; I Peter 2:4-5; I Corinthians 3:16-17 The third in a four-part series celebrating the Centennial of the Church of the Nazarene, Pastor Jon looks at what it means to be Living Stones built in the Temple of…

The Church as the Body of Christ – September 21, 2008

The Church as the Body of Christ Texts: Psalm 108:1-5; Exodus 18:13-24; John 15:1-13; 1 Corinthians 12:12-26 The second in a four-part series celebrating the Centennial of the Church of the Nazarene, Pastor Jon looks at what it means to be a one part of a unified body. In particular, we discuss the tension between…

The Church as Covenant Community – September 14, 2008

The Church as Covenant Community Texts: Psalm 111; Deuteronomy 5:1-21; Matthew 22:36-40; 2 Corinthians 3:4-18 The first in a four-part series leading up to the Centennial of the Church of the Nazarene, this sermon also fell on our Homecoming Weekend at the Cape Elizabeth Church of the Nazarene. We consider what it means to be…

Standing on Holy Ground – September 7, 2008

Standing on Holy Ground Texts: Revelation 21:1-4; Romans 12:9-21; Matthew 16:21-28; Exodus 3:1-15 Pastor Jon takes a look at the narrative of Moses and the Burning Bush, asking if the church comes together expecting God to speak to us. Are we prepared for worship? Are we expecting God to transform us? Or do we simply…

Of Baskets and Mangers – August 24, 2008

Of Baskets and Mangers Texts: Psalm 124; Romans 12:1-8; Matthew 16:13-20; Exodus 1:8-2:10 Pastor Jon discusses ways that we can be agents of the Kingdom of life and hope, by committing faithful acts of subversion against the kingdom of power, death, and oppression. Oskar Schindler, Shiphrah & Puah, and Pharaoh’s daughter are presented as examples…

Laying Down Your Birdstick – August 17, 2008

Laying Down Your Birdstick Texts: Psalm 133; Romans 11:1-2a, 29-32; Matthew 15:10-28; Genesis 45:1-15 Pastor Jon continues the exploration of the Joseph narrative, looking specifically at the way in which he offered grace and forgiveness to his brothers when they came to Egypt looking for grain. Even in the deepest moments of our lives, we…