?A Refining Fire

April 19, 2009 ?Second Sunday After Easter Acts 4:32-35 A good definition of grace is "treating others better than they deserve to be treated." We talk about grace a lot, using expressions like, "Only by the grace of God did I find the strength to carry on after my wife died." Or, "There but for the grace of God, go I." Grace is used in a lot of different ways. There's an interesting usage in this morning's text. Luke writes, "With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and much grace was upon them all." Just how did that grace manifest itself? The portrait of the early church that Luke paints in these verses is a description of God's grace at work in a congregation.

???The Most Important Day Ever

April 12, 2009 ?Easter 1 Corinthians 15:1-11 Some years ago, the distinguished publishing house of Grosset & Dunlap brought together a panel of 28 educators and historians and asked them to select the 100 most significant events of history, then list those events in order of importance. After months of labor, the panel reported that they considered the most significant event of history to be the discovery of America. In second place was the invention of movable type by Gutenberg. Eleven different events tied for third place, and five events tied for fourth place. The events tying for fourth were the writing of the Constitution of our country, the development of ether, the development of the x-ray, the discovery of the airplane and the life of Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus tied for fourth.

?The Word That Sustains the Weary

April 5, 2009 ?Palm Sunday Isaiah 50:4-9a On that first Palm Sunday, Jesus mounted a donkey and rode down the Mount of Olives, across the Kidron Valley and up through the Eastern Gate. The crowds hailed Him as their conquering Messiah. Sadly, they did not know that Jesus was not to be the kind of Messiah they expected. On this Palm Sunday we ask, "Are we to be happy for Jesus' acclamation by the crowds? Do we join in and acknowledge His messiahship?" Or, is it a time for us to be sorrowful? After all, we now know what Jesus suffered and why He suffered during His passion.

Death Breeds Life

March 29, 2009 ?Fifth Sunday in Lent (B) John 12:20-33 Many people walk through life believing that the key to an abundant life is what the world defines as success. They seek only after the desires of their flesh, all the while being deceived into thinking they'll be fulfilled. Even Christians often find themselves in despair, giving in to their flesh, unable to avoid the patterns of this world. If only we could grasp fully what Jesus teaches in this text, that death to self is life abundant.

?My Life Is a Snake Pit!

March 22, 2009 ?Fourth Sunday in Lent (B) Numbers 21:4-9 "Pastor," she said, as she began to search for a way to share her heart, "our daughter has run away." As I listened she began to describe the problems she and her husband had been facing with their daughter. This was not the first time this had happened. Tears streamed down her face as she recounted all of what she saw as her failures as a parent. The pain was tremendous. Fear was rampant. She saw no hope.

??Money Changers Meet the Life Changer

?March 15, 2009 Third Sunday in Lent (B) John 2:13-22 A few years ago Ray Boltz wrote and recorded a song entitled "Watch the Lamb." It tells the story of a Jewish father and his son making their pilgrimage to sacrifice their Passover lamb. The lad is charged with the responsibility of keeping up with the lamb. While they are traveling they come to the place where Christ is being crucified, and the father is heard saying to the lad, "watch the lamb." In this passage we see the people of God watching to make sure the sacrifice is perfect. But they miss the real Lamb.

Perfect Hearing

?March 8, 2009 Second Sunday in Lent (B) Mark 8:31-38 The I.R.S. received this letter a number of years ago: "Gentlemen: Enclosed you will find a check for $150. I cheated on my income tax return last year and have not been able to sleep ever since. If I still have trouble sleeping I will send you the rest. Sincerely..."

?An Uncommon Man with an Uncommon Mission

?March 1, 2009 First Sunday in Lent (B) Mark 1:9-15 John the Baptist, the charismatic revivalist, was exhausted. His disciples were concerned because of how tired he appeared lately. His daily schedule was purpose-driven, challenging him to be up early praying, thinking and meditating before His God. While he was praying, the crowds gathered close by, waiting for him to make his entrance. His appearance was unique-long, unkempt hair waving in the wind, his black beard untrimmed, and wearing clothes made of camel's hair with a leather belt around his waist. He looked much older than his 30 years. John had a wild, wide-eyed demeanor that captivated his listeners' attention on the hillsides of Judea.

The Gifts Left Under Calvary’s Tree

Jan. 4, 2009 Second Sunday After Christmas (B) Ephesians 1:3-14 At this point in the year when we're trying to recall our Christmas benefactors in order to acknowledge their generosity with an appropriate thank-you note, we do well to remember the spiritual blessings bestowed upon us by our Supreme Benefactor-blessings listed by Paul in Ephesians 1:3-14.

An End to Chaos

Jan. 11, 2009 Baptism of the Lord (B) Genesis 1:1-5 Everyone knows the joke about the fellow who, when asked for directions, always answered, "You can't get there from here."