December 24

An Extraordinary Moment

Text: “Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!”                      (Revelation 22:20)

December 21

What Does Jesus Want for Christmas?

Text: “While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger…”                   (Luke 2:6-7)

December 14

Let's Get Things Straight

Text: “A voice cries out: ‘In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain.’”                                                                          (Isaiah 40:3-4)

November 23rd

A Good Thing

Text: “It is good to give thanks to the Lord.”                  (Psalm 92:1)

November 16th

A Matter of Substance

Text: :  “A poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which are worth a penny. Then he called his disciples and said to them, ‘Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the treasury.’”      (Mark 12:42-43)

November 9th

Priceless

Text: ““The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which someone found and hid; then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls; on finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it.”                                                            (Matthew 13:44-46)

November 2nd

Questions in Search of an Answer
#8: Lord, Will I Be in That Number?

Text: “After this I looked, and there was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, robed in white, with palm branches in their hands.”         (Revelation 7:9)

October 26th

Questions in Search of an Answer
#7: Does Life Have it's Limits?

Text: “The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to till it and keep it.”                                            (Genesis 2:15)

October 19th

Questions in Search of an Answer
#6: Is It OK to Have Doubts?

Text: “Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. When they saw him, they worshiped; but some doubted.”                                              (Matthew 28:16-17)

October 5th

Questions in Search of an Answer
#5: What Really Happens at This Table?

Text: “Do this in remembrance of me.”                          (Luke 22:19)

September 28th

Questions in Search of an Answer
#4: How Seriously Can I Take the Bible?

Text: “For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, so that by steadfastness and by the encouragement of the scriptures we might have hope."                             (Romans 15:4)

September 21st

Questions in Search of an Answer
#3: Why is Hospitality so Important?

Text: “Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers…”                                                                (Hebrews 13:2)

September 14th

Questions in Search of an Answer
#2: Can I Really be Fret Free?

Text: “So we can say with confidence, ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can anyone do to me?’”              (Hebrews 13:6)

September 7th

Questions in Search of an Answer
#1: What's so Unique About Jesus?

Text: “[The Gospel] is the power of God for salvation to everyone who has faith.”                                                              (Romans 1:16)

August 10th

Jesus' Little Instruction Book for Life- #8: Demonstrating a Discomforting Difference

Text: “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”                  (Matthew 5:10-12)

August 3rd

Jesus' Little Instruction Book for Life- #7: Positive Peace Production

Text: “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.”                                                                         (Matthew 5:9)

July 13th

Jesus' Little Instruction Book for Life- #6: A Principle Within

Text: “Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.”                                                                          (Matthew 5:7)

July 6th

Jesus' Little Instruction Book for Life- #5: Showers of Blessing

Text: “Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.”                                                                          (Matthew 5:7)

June 29th

Jesus' Little Instruction Book for Life - #4: Hunger Pangs

Text:  “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.                                                     (Matthew 5:6)

June 22nd

Jesus' Little Instruction Book for Life
#3: Humble Yourself in the Sight of the Lord

Text:   “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.”                                                                            (Matthew 5:5)

June 8th

Jesus' Little Instruction Book for Life - #2: Appropriate Sadness

Text:  “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.”                                                                 (Matthew 5:4)

June 1st

Jesus' Little Instruction Book for Life - #1: Fill Me Up, Lord

Text:   “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”                                                                         (Matthew 5:3)

May 18th

Expanding Parish

Text:   “[You] have set my feet in a broad place.”          (Psalm 31:8)

May 11th

Something Special in Mind

Text: “Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you and appointed you a prophet to the nations.”                                                                   (Jeremiah 1:5)

May 4th

Tent-Making 2003

Text: “Enlarge the site of your tent, and let the curtains of your habitations be stretched out; do not hold back; lengthen your cords and strengthen your stakes.                                              (Isaiah 54:2)

April 20th

Praying by Heart: 7. More Than a Footnote

Text:   “For the kingdom and the power and the glory are yours forever. Amen.”                                       (Matthew’s gospel footnote)

April 13th

Praying by Heart: 6. Appropriate Armor

Text:   “And do not bring us to the time of trial, but rescue us from the evil one.”                                                               (Matthew 6:13)

April 6th

Praying by Heart: 5. Are You Out of Debt?

Text:   “And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors”                                                                     (Matthew 6:12)

March 30th

Praying by Heart: 4. Bare Necessities

Text:   “Give us this day our daily bread.”           (Matthew 6:11)

March 23rd

Praying by Heart: 3. Radical Reorientation

Text: “Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”
                                                                                   (Matthew 6:10b)

March 16th

Praying by Heart: 2. The Shape of Things to Come!

Text: “Your Kingdom Come.”                                   (Matthew 6:10a)

March 9th

Praying by Heart: 1. Holiness Breathes God's Name 

Text:   “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name…”                                                                                                        (Matthew 6:9)

March 2nd

God Will Sing to You! 

Text:  "The Lord, your God is in your midst, a warrior who gives victory; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will renew you in His love; He will exult over you with loud singing..”(Zephaniah 3:17)

February 9th

A New Year's Resolution: Live Intimately 

Text: “Thus the Lord used to speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend.”                                                      (Exodus 33:11)

February 2nd

A New Year's Resolution: Live Boldly 

Text: “When they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God with boldness.”                      (Acts 4:31)

January 26th

A New Year's Resolution: Live Expectantly

Text: “Very truly, I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these…”                                                                           (John14:12)

January 19th

A New Year's Resolution: Live Justice

Text: “He has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?”                                          (Micah 6:8)

January 5th

A New Year's Resolution: Live Well

“…do good, be rich in good works, generous, and ready to share, thus storing up the treasure… of a good foundation for the future so that [you] may take hold of the life that really is life.”                                                                            (I Timothy 6:18)