Sermons from 2023 (Page 2)
It’s about to Get Messy
Scripture Lesson I Samuel 8 Israel Demands a King 8 When Samuel became old, he made his sons judges over Israel. 2 The name of his first-born son was Jo′el, and the name of his second, Abi′jah; they were judges in Beer-sheba. 3 Yet his sons did not walk in his ways, but turned aside after gain; they took bribes and perverted justice. 4 Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah, 5 and said to him, “Behold, you are old and…
Holy Responsibility: Claiming Our Call to Tend the Earth
Scripture Lesson Romans 8:12-19 12 So then, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh— 13 for if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body you will live. 14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. 15 For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the spirit of…
Holy Water: Respecting Creation, Respecting Creator
Scripture Lesson Proverbs 8:1-3, 22-31 The Gifts of Wisdom 8 Does not wisdom call, Does not understanding raise her voice?2 On the heights beside the way, in the paths she takes her stand;3 beside the gates in front of the town, at the entrance of the portals she cries aloud: Wisdom’s Part in Creation 22 The Lord created me at the beginning of his work,[a] the first of his acts of old.23 Ages ago I was set up, at the first, before the beginning of the earth.24 When there were no depths I…
Holy Creatures: Loving Our Wild Neighbors
Scripture Lesson Job 12:7-10 7 “But ask the beasts, and they will teach you; the birds of the air, and they will tell you;8 or the plants of the earth,[a] and they will teach you; and the fish of the sea will declare to you.9 Who among all these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this?10 In his hand is the life of every living thing and the breath of all mankind.
Holy Order: Every Species has a Sacred Role
Scripture Lesson Romans 12:4-6 4 For as in one body we have many members, and all the members do not have the same function, 5 so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. 6 Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith;
Holy Gift: God Creates, We Steward
Scripture Lesson Genesis 1:26-31 26 Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness; and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth.” 27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. 28 And God blessed them, and God…
Tomorrow
Scripture Lesson Matthew 28:1-10 The Resurrection of Jesus 28 Now after the sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Mag′dalene and the other Mary went to see the sepulchre. 2 And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone, and sat upon it. 3 His appearance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow. 4 And for fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead…
“Save Us”
Scripture Lesson Matthew 21:1-22 Jesus’ Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem 21 And when they drew near to Jerusalem and came to Beth′phage, to the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, 2 saying to them, “Go into the village opposite you, and immediately you will find an ass tied, and a colt with her; untie them and bring them to me. 3 If any one says anything to you, you shall say, ‘The Lord has need of them,’ and he will send them immediately.” 4 This took…
Miracles as Parables: Jesus and the Blind Man
Scripture Lesson Mark 8:22-26 Jesus Cures a Blind Man at Bethsaida 22 And they came to Beth-sa′ida. And some people brought to him a blind man, and begged him to touch him. 23 And he took the blind man by the hand, and led him out of the village; and when he had spit on his eyes and laid his hands upon him, he asked him, “Do you see anything?” 24 And he looked up and said, “I see men; but they look like trees,…
Miracles as Parables: Walking on Water
Scripture Lesson Matthew 14:22-33 Jesus Walks on the Water 22 Then he made the disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. 23 And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, 24 but the boat by this time was many furlongs distant from the land,[a] beaten by the waves; for the wind was against them. 25 And in the fourth watch of…
Miracles as Parables: Jesus and the Feeding of the Five Thousand
Scripture Lesson Matthew 14:13-21 Feeding the Five Thousand 13 Now when Jesus heard this, he withdrew from there in a boat to a lonely place apart. But when the crowds heard it, they followed him on foot from the towns. 14 As he went ashore he saw a great throng; and he had compassion on them, and healed their sick. 15 When it was evening, the disciples came to him and said, “This is a lonely place, and the day is now over; send the…
Miracles as Parables: Jesus and the Man Through the Roof
Scripture Lesson Luke 5: 17-26 Jesus Heals a Paralytic 17 On one of those days, as he was teaching, there were Pharisees and teachers of the law sitting by, who had come from every village of Galilee and Judea and from Jerusalem; and the power of the Lord was with him to heal.[a] 18 And behold, men were bringing on a bed a man who was paralyzed, and they sought to bring him in and lay him before Jesus;[b] 19 but finding no way to…