Easter Sunrise moves from one day to the next, as the new day dawns. Hear the story of Resurrection as we move into newness of life.
Easter Sunrise moves from one day to the next, as the new day dawns. Hear the story of Resurrection as we move into newness of life.
Matthew 28:1-10 This is the Easter story that perhaps we don’t remember quite as well. In as blunt and spectacular a way as Jesus enters Jerusalem, he is raised from the dead. It’s not subtle, it’s not quiet, it’s not easy to ignore. How does the resurrection enter into our lives? Does the earth shake? Do we see the angel,…
Matthew 21:1-17 The time for parables and subtlety is over. Jesus is coming to town, entering into Jerusalem. Now Jesus gives clear directions to the disciples, and rides right into town. Jesus enters Jerusalem to a city and a crown in turmoil, a people curious about who he is and what he’s doing. What he does is go straight to…
Matthew 25:31-46 This is perhaps one of the best known parables. Do we treat is as a parable, or as an actual description of the situation? It follows immediately on the trail of the bridesmaids and the talents, with no break in between, as a parable about the end of the age. Sheep, one side, goats, the other – what’s the difference?…
Matthew 25:1-30 Are You Prepared? These two parables come after chapter 24, in which the disciples ask Jesus how they will know when the end of the age is, and when is the end of the age? This is a topic that some branches of the church spend a lot of time on to this day. You can probably find a…
Matthew 22:1-14 This parable is the third in a set that immediately follow on the triumphal entry of Jesus to Jerusalem on what we now call Palm Sunday. The first parable is about a man with two sons, one who goes out in to the fields after saying he won’t, and the other who doesn’t, after saying he will. The second…
Matthew 20:1-16 Continuing to ask the question of why Jesus would tell the disciples a certain parable, the end of chapter 19 has Peter tell Jesus that they have given everything up to follow him. Peter wants to know what they will get. That conversation happens right after being told by Jesus that it will be easier for a camel to get…
A story of faith, drawing from Mark 14:3-9, preached as part of the 2019 Community Lenten Series of the Marion Ministerial Alliance, preach at First Presbyterian Church of Marion, Illinois.
Matthew 18:15-35 Sometimes we get wrapped up in the parables. We think about the symbolism, and spend our time trying to figure out what they mean. We spend a lot of time figuring out who we are, who God is, what the metaphor is about, and what it means. We sometimes get so wrapped up in figuring out what the parables mean…
Matthew 16:24–17:8 Passion prediction, bearing the cross, Transfiguration (Psalm 41:7-10) This passage is really all about the previews. This is what’s coming, people. Coming soon to a theater near you… These previews are approved for all audiences… Take up your cross and follow, has become a byword, and a slogan. Things are just our cross to bear. Listen to more than the…