Preaching Through the Week

Text: John 20:19-31 Theme: Easter Discipleship When you hear about the disciple, Thomas, what do you think? How do you feel? Looking back into history, it is easy to judge and second guess historical figures. It wouldn't be odd to question Thomas and his questions; how could he NOT believe Jesus has come back to the disciples? What is wrong with him? Thinking about the disciples, and their reactions to the resurrection, says a lot about how we understand God, humanity, and faith. Since my time in seminary, I have been more gentle with those first disciples, trying to use empathy and understanding to get to their worldview. Thinking about the situation in which they find themselves (locked together, away from others), fear must have been a primary factor. Their friend and leader had been killed. Were they next? What would happen if they were brought to "trial?" As a student of history (I have learned a little bit, and I have lot more to learn), I like to consider...

Text: Matthew 28:1-20 Theme: Plus One Blessed and joyous Easter, family and friends, near and far! This is a big day in our church, and in our world. Pain has not ceased to exist, nor has death received it's last person. In some ways, our world doesn't much seem changed. Covid-19 still sickens people at an incredible rate, and many people continue to die of this disease. In neighborhoods, houses of worship, restaurants, and more, alternative and creative ways to be together continue to exist outside of face-to-face gatherings. Yet, it is right and holy that we celebrate Easter this day. The gospel text from this morning is the first portion of the last chapter of Matthew. For the sake of devotion and worship of God, I encourage you to read all of chapter 28, because the rest of the chapter reflects the persistence and pursuance of God, through God's Son Jesus Christ. Matthew continues to show us the intersection of the way the world words, with the way God works. ...

Text: John 11:1-45 Theme: New Life "Take away the stone." -Jesus (11:39) When Jesus speaks, things happen. Jesus, after caring for Martha and Mary, takes time to weep and grieve the death of his friend. Lazarus was really  dead. His sisters were really  sad. Jesus was really  disturbed. And yet, Jesus speaks into the moment. Jesus speaks so that others may hear of God's glory. Jesus speaks new life into death. The connection with Jesus, Lazarus, and us collide, as we approach Holy Week. This Holy Week will be different than any other. There will be singing, and praying, and hope. There will be people preparing themselves for the darkness of Good Friday, and the light of Easter morning. It will be different, but faith is never the same. We are shaped by our experiences-- internal and external. Our understanding of God, and of ourselves, changes based on what is going on in our world, our heads, and our hearts. We worship a living, dynamic God. The Holy Spirit c...

Sunday, March 22, 2020 Text: Colossians 1:9-14 Theme: Patience and Flexibility "Never in all my adult life did I think I would be leading worship, in our kitchen, for our congregations." -Pastor Paul, Sunday, March 22, 2020 I went to church today. No quotes, no quips, no exceptions. We had church today. We praised God; we confessed our sins, heard the words of forgiveness, prayed, heard the Word, confessed our faith, prayed, and were blessed. The world is an unexpected and wild place. The time in which we find ourselves commands great discipline, creativity, and faithfulness. While things were not perfect on our Zoom worship today, there was a sense of gladness and thanksgiving. Come to think of it, Sunday mornings never go perfectly either. And that is a good thing. Amidst the foibles and mistakes, the Holy Spirit still enters in and brings us to faith. As Christians, and people from other faith communities, have prayed, discerned, and planned for a "new way...

Scripture: Matthew 4:1-11 Focus: Wilderness and Temptation- Part 1 There are two things that we are facing these days, as our humanity is tested: wilderness and temptation. Times of wilderness interrupt life; a cancer diagnosis, the death of a loved one, losing a job. The wilderness is just that-- wild, untamed, scary.  The Covid-19 pandemic is a wilderness that most of us have never experienced, individually or collectively. As of the writing of this, there have been over 207,000 positive cases, in more than 160 countries and territories, leading to more than 8,600 deaths. There has not been a positive case in Southern Illinois, at least not yet. For many, this is a time of fear and anxiety; toilet paper shelves are empty, bread is missing from the shelves, and we don't know when people in our community will be directly affected.  God is no stranger to the wilderness. The Israelites spent 40 years in the wilderness. Jesus spent 40 days in the wilder...