Treasures New and Old

(Text: Hebrews 4:14-5:10) Perhaps the primary metaphor which the book of Hebrews uses to describe Jesus is that of our "Great High Priest," forever interceding for us. To make his point, the author states that Jesus is a priest forever "according to the order of Melchizedek." Who is this Melchizedek, anyway, and what does he have to do with us?

(Text: Hebrews 2:10-18) In the second chapter of Hebrews, the author asserts that Jesus has destroyed the power of death, and therefore has set us free from the fear which enslaves us. How does fear still affect our actions? What might we do if we had no fear?

(Text: Hebrews 1:1-4) In the midst of the suffering and injustice of life in this world, we often find ourselves hopelessly overwhelmed. In her sermon, guest preacher Ann Adams reminds of the comforting promise of this passage, that God is even now speaking to us and sustaining us through Jesus Christ.

(Text: Luke 15:8-10; Psalm 113) In the Psalms, we find poems, songs, and prayers that accompany us through the life of faith, in both good times and bad. Psalm 113 opens and closes with the command, "Hallelujah!" (Praise the Lord!) What is praise? Why do it?

(Text: Acts 2:1-4; Romans 8:14-39) What does the Holy Spirit do, anyway? On this day of Pentecost, we hear about the coming of the Spirit in the early church, and we also hear Paul's teaching about the work of the Spirit in Romans chapter eight.

(Text: Romans 6:1-14) "How can we who have died to sin go on living in it?" This question has haunted the church throughout its history. Paul tells us that through baptism we have died to sin so that we might live a new life, so how do we explain our bad behavior?

(Text: Acts 10:1-20, 34-48) With a pair of visions given to two very different men, God orchestrates the spread of faith in Jesus from the Jewish cities of Judea to the Roman city of Caesarea. Peter and his companions are shocked, for God works outside the Law.

(Text: Matthew 28:16-20) When Jesus gives the mission to disciple, baptize, and teach all the nations, he gives it to a group of disciples who are struggling with doubt. Surely this call  is more than they can handle! How can wavering worshipers like us measure up to this "Great Commission?"

(Text: Matthew 28:1-10) At the first Easter Sunday, nothing could keep Jesus in his tomb.  Just as Jesus's tomb couldn't hold him, neither can the tomb-like walls we build for ourselves keep God's forgiveness away from our sin.

(Text: Matthew 21:1-17) On the Sunday before Passover, a large crowd gives Jesus a royal welcome as he enters Jerusalem.  Clearly the people see Jesus as a potential lord and king, but what kind of Lord is he?

(Text: Matthew 25:31-46) Just two days before he will be stripped, beaten, imprisoned, and handed over to be crucified, Jesus tells of the final judgment of the nations.  At that judgment, Jesus reveals a startling truth; whatever you do to the least of these, you do to Jesus.  And it is Jesus's verdict that determines your future.

(Text: Matthew 25:1-13) Speaking with his disciples about the coming of his kingdom, Jesus tells several parables about the need to be ready.  Today we hear the story of ten bridesmaids waiting for the groom to arrive.

(Text: Matthew 22:1-14) When he is challenged by the chief priests and the leaders of the people, Jesus responds with parables where those who think they are on the inside find themselves cast out.  How can we hear these troubling parables today?

(Text: Matthew 20:1-16) In his last teaching stop before coming to Jerusalem, Jesus is asked by his disciples about the sort of reward they can expect, since they have left everything to follow him.  In response, Jesus tells a parable of day-laborers with an offensively generous employer.

(Text: Matthew 18:15-35) Nothing is closer to the heart of the Gospel than the forgiveness of sins.  But here in this text, Jesus speaks about forgiveness not in terms of the Gospel, but rather by the rules of the Law.

(Text: John 14:15-27) In this Lenten reflection from 2018, Pastor John explores just how it is that Jesus's Last Supper Sermon can be called by Martin Luther "the best and most comforting sermon preached by Christ while on this Earth."

(Matthew 14:13-33) Immediately after participating in the miracle of Jesus feeding 5,000+ people, the disciples find themselves alone in a boat in the middle of a storm.  Why is it that trials so often follow times of abundance?  Where is God when they come?

(Matthew 7:1-14, 24-29)  Here at the end of the sermon on the mount, Jesus holds up two alternatives: the difficult way that leads to life, and the comfortable road which leads to destruction.  How do you know which path you are on?

(Luke 2:1-20) In this 2018 Christmas Eve sermon, Pastor John explores the ways God keeps confirming his promises to us, especially when they are hard to trust.

(Text: Matthew 6:7-21) In this reading, Jesus gives his famous instruction about treasures: "Do not store up treasures on Earth, but in Heaven."  But how exactly do we do that?  How do we get treasures into heaven?  And more importantly, how do we withdraw them?

(Text: Matthew 5:1-20) The sermon on the mount has long fascinated Christians.  What exactly is Jesus doing here?  Is he correcting the old Law?  Giving a new one?  Or something else entirely?

(Text: Psalm 23, James 5:13-16, Romans 8:26-27)  In this funeral sermon, Pastor John focuses on the extraordinary promises God gives us regarding prayer.

(Text: Matthew 3) Malachi 4:5 reads "Lo, I will send you the prophet Elijah before the great and terrible day of the Lord comes."  In Matthew 3, we find John the Baptist fulfilling the role of Elijah, preparing the people for the arrival of the Lord.  But what will happen when he actually arrives?

(Text: Matthew 2) The second chapter of Matthew is filled with stories of travel.  First, the Magi travel from the east to pay homage to Jesus.  Then, the holy family run to Egypt as refugees to escape violence.  What does that mean for refugees in our world today?

(Text: Matthew 1:1-17) Where do you begin telling the story of Jesus?  For Matthew, the answer is a genealogy starting with Abraham, because Jesus is the fulfillment of God's promises across the generations.

(Text: Matthew 1:18-25) When Matthew tells the story of the birth of Jesus, he does it from Joseph's perspective.  And in the midst of Joseph's uncertainty, an angel comes to reassure him that this child is from the Holy Spirit, and that he embodies the promise that "God is with us."

(Text: Esther 4:1-17) Guest preacher Bishop Kristen Kuempel shows us how God works through those we would least expect to do his work in the world.

(Text: Habakkuk 1:1-6; 2:1-4; 3:17-19) "The righteous will live by their faith" is one of the most important statements in all of scripture.  But what does living by faith actually mean?

(Text: Jeremiah 1:4-10; 7:1-11) In the final years of the kingdom of Judah, the prophet Jeremiah is called to preach an unpopular word.  

(Text: Isaiah 36:1--37:7; 2:1-4) Guest preacher Ron Jetter compares the political turmoil and intrigue of the 8th century BC to modern day stories like Game of Thrones.

(Text: Micah 1:2-5; 5:2-5a; 6:6-8) At a time of violent conflict, the prophet Micah preaches against those in Jerusalem who have exploited their power for their own gain.  What does God require?  To do justice, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with God.

(Text: 2 Kings 5:1-19a) Naaman, the commanders of the armies of Syria, comes to Elisha seeking healing for his leprosy.  Though he is an outsider and undeserving, God delivers.

(Text: John 16:4b-15) In this Lenten reflection, Pastor John looks at the role of the Holy Spirit, who "will prove the world wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment."

(Text: 2 Samuel 11:1-6; 11:14--12:6) When King David abuses his power to take a woman he desires, it seems like he will get away with it.  But God is not mocked.

(Text: Joshua 24:1-26)  As Israel settles in the promised land, Joshua gathers the people together to recommit them to their God.  Though the people will not honor their covenant, God remains faithful to them and to us.

(Text: Exodus 19:3-7; 20:1-17) Three months after leaving Egypt, the Israelites arrive at Mount Sinai. Here, God begins to transform them from a collection of enslaved peoples into "a priestly kingdom and a holy nation."

(Text: Exodus 14:5-31) When Israel is oppressed by Pharaoh, the sound of their cry reaches to God, who answers beyond their wildest imaginings.  Even when our prayers are unspoken and misguided, God hears us and knows what we need.

(Text: Genesis 39) Joseph, a great-grandson of Abraham, has been sold into slavery by his brothers, and now a false accusation lands him in prison.  However, throughout all this we are repeatedly told that "the Lord was with him."

(Text: Genesis 6:5--9:17) In the story of Noah and the flood, we learn something about the depth of human sin and about God's strategy for dealing with sin.  What the flood could not accomplish, God in Jesus Christ now promises in baptism.

(Text: Luke 12:17-35)  What leads to success?  While the usual answer is hard work and wise decisions, with Jesus all this is turned upside down.  Our ultimate success comes not from how good we are, but rather from who our shepherd is.

(Text: Mark 10:17-31) When a rich man asks what he must do to inherit God's kingdom, Jesus demands the one thing he cannot do: sell what he owns and give it to the poor.  Though it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for the rich to enter the kingdom, with God all things are possible.

(Text: Matthew 6:19-34) When Jesus tells his disciples not to worry, he makes a surprising connection: to worry about our livelihood is to attempt to serve both God and wealth.

(Text: John 6:24-36) After the feeding a great multitude with just a little bread and fish, Jesus does a surprising thing: he withdrawsfrom the crowd, so that they come to Capernaum, seeking Jesus.  What does Jesus do with seekers?  He brings them to their end.

(Text: John 20:19-23) This sermon was given at an Advent Wednesday service in 2017. We often don't know what to think of the Holy Spirit, but the reality is that the Holy Spirit permeates everything that we do. Forgiveness, resurrection, and even faith itself are all the works of the Holy Spirit in us.

(Text: Acts 15:24-29; Mark 10:13-16) Week 5 of our 6-week study of Ken Callahan's "Twelve Keys to an Effective Church." Our focuses this week were "Solid Decision Process" and "Land, Landscaping, and Parking."

(Text: Ephesians 4:7, 11-13; Mark 2:1-5) Week 4 of our 6-week study of Ken Callahan's "Twelve Keys to an Effective Church." Our focuses this week were "Shepherding Visitation" and "High Visibility."

(Text: Acts 2:42-47, Matthew 6:31-33)  We continue our 6-week study of Ken Callahan's "Twelve Keys to an Effective Churh."  Our focuses this week were "Significant Relational Groupings" and "Generous Giving."

(Text: Romans 12:1-2, Luke 10:38-42)  Today, we begin our study of Ken Callahan's "Twelve Keys to an Effective Church."  Our focuses on this day were "Stirring, Helpful Worship" and "One Major Program."

(Text: 1 John 4:7-21) As Christians, we are called to love as Christ loved us: selflessly and recklessly. In practice, however, our feeble love falls short. Real love comes only from God, and we are recipients of this perfect love.

(Text: 1 John 4:1-6) Not every word that claims to be from God can be trusted. Not every spirit that speaks to us is the Holy Spirit. Here we learn the key to discerning which messages are from God and which are not.

(Text: 1 John 1:5--2:2) We often think of confession as "owning up to our wrongs," but this is only half true. When we confess, we reveal that to which our heart clings. With this in mind, 1 John encourages us to have a true confession; one that acknowledges our sin in the light of God's mercy.