Main Text: Matthew 17:1-9 (Exodus 24:12-18; 2 Peter 1:16-21) Moses and Elijah were with them on the mountain talking with Jesus. Moses was the law giver. We hear of his journey to the mountain in Exodus to receive the law on stone tablets. The law was never meant to be lived outside of relationship with…
Main Text: 1 Corinthians 3:1-9 (Deuteronomy 30:15-20; Matthew 5:21-37) Throughout the season of Epiphany, we have been stressing that you are called. We all are called by the grace of God and by virtue of our baptism. This call is not an insurance policy that you put in a drawer. We are not called to…
Main Text: Matthew 5:13-20 (Isaiah 58:1-12; 1 Corinthians 2:1-12) Knowing that the light is different than the darkness, we are called to be people of the light. We are called not to reflect the broken behavior and relationships that define the world and that plunges it into chaos and darkness. We are the epiphany of…
Main Text: 1 Corinthians 1:18-31 (Micah 6:1-8; Matthew 5:1-12) Over these last weeks in the season of Epiphany we have focused on our calling as grounded and defined by Christ’s calling and by the grace of God. We heard God affirm Jesus Christ as the embodiment of the new creation we are called to emulate.…
Main Text: Matthew 4:12-23 (Isaiah 9:1-4; 1 Corinthians 1:10-18) What does it mean to pray “your kingdom come; your will be done on earth as it is in heaven?” Jesus proclaimed that the kingdom of heaven has come near. The implication was that where Jesus is, so also is the kingdom of heaven. Jesus embodied…
Main Text: John 1:29-42 (Isaiah 49:1-7; 1 Corinthians 1:1-9) What are you looking for? This was Jesus question to John’s disciples. They had heard John himself identify Jesus as the “Lamb of God”. John had actually said it twice. Jesus question, however, is an important one for those who seek to follow Jesus. What are…
Main Text: Matthew 3:13-17 (Isaiah 42:1-9; Acts 10:34-43) Baptism was not invented by the Christian Church. In fact, baptism was practiced well before John the Baptist entered the scene. Baptism was a ritual cleansing in which one generally descended seven steps into the water symbolizing leaving the brokenness of the world and returning to creation.…
Overall Theme: When we in the church speak of Call, inevitably everyone’s mind goes to the ordained clergy. Luther, however, was very clear that we are all called into vocation. Luther passionately believed that no matter what we do for a living, we are all called to do it to the glory of God. This…
Main Text: John 1:1-18 (Jeremiah 31:7-14; Ephesians 1:3-14) Even as you prepare to receive a new year and a new pastor, it is important to remember what has always been. “In the beginning was the Word.” Though the new pastor will bring new ways of being and doing into the life of Abiding Presence Church,…
Text: Luke 2:1-20 (Isaiah 9:2-7; Titus 2:11-14) The time has come for Abiding Presence Lutheran Church! You have journeyed through this time of discovery. Like the season of Advent, you have been preparing yourselves to receive a new vision and leader according to the Spirit. The call has been issued and the time has come.…
Main Text: Matthew 2:13-23 (Isaiah 63:7-9; Hebrews 2:10-18) We have done a lot of talking over this past year together. From the Café conversations to the “Finding the Verb” exercise that led to a new mission statement and the “Rule of Love” developed. This conversation has identified who you are as a community of faith…
Main Text: Matthew 1:18-25 (Isaiah 7:10-16; Romans 1:1-7) The greatest challenge to faith is not doubt but fear. This is why the scriptures instruct us not to fear. Of course, choosing not to fear is impossible. Training oneself to overcome fear, however, is what allows some people to engage and move through fear while others…