01112023 – Matthew 3. 13-17 The four Evangelists’ accounts of the Baptism of Jesus are found in Matthew 3:13-17, Mark 1:9-11, Luke 3:21-22, and John 1:32-34, and each of “their stories” go “pretty much” like the passage according to Matthew. Well, kind of… It is important to note that all four gospels share their own […]
01012023A – The Name of Jesus This is kind-of-a-fun-one… Different…to be sure… A unique way of kicking off the new year…2023 Does anyone know what an “aptronym” is? It’s a compound word consisting of the adjective “apt” meaning “aptitude” and the Greek word for “name.” An “aptronym” is when someone’s name and occupation line up […]
01012023 – The Name of Jesus For those of you, who like to learn “new things,” this is didactic…a teaching sermon…for those of you, who do not, I am sorry. Bear with me…I’ll try to be quick (Just keep in mind the Packer Game doesn’t air until 3:25 P.M.!) In the book of Deuteronomy God […]
12312022 – Matthew 6. 24-34 The timing on this is perfect. Perfect for NEW YEAR’S EVE. The perfect time for a little REFLECTION. Matthew’s gospel is DIFFERENT from Mark’s. Matthew writes for a predominantly JEWISH or HEBRAIC audience. Matthew and his concerns – LIE ELSEWHERE from that of Mark’s. Matthew, you may recall, was a […]
12172022 – Matthew 1. 18-25 With just a handful of days TO GO before Christmas…many Americans will be scurrying and rushing around… completing their FINAL Christmas preparations or at least attempting to do so. This is a HIGH DRAMA time of the year. They will hopefully be COMPLETING their last-minute SHOPPING, finalizing their TRAVEL PLANS, […]
12142022 – Matthew 11. 2-11 John is IN PRISON. Fortunately for us, “that experience” is foreign to us. But it is NOT foreign to everyone, including, THE BAPTIZER. He was a “brand new political prisoner.” Everything about life in a cell was strange and understandably frightening. He was held underground, in a remote dungeon, cold […]
12102022 – Luke 11. 2-11 John the Baptizer had “EXPECTATIONS” about the ONE who WAS to Come. He WASN’T alone. A lot of people did. It was actually pretty COMMONPLACE. Some thought of a KING, like King David. The Greatest King of All Time. The “GOAT!” Some expected A “WISE RELIGIOUS RULER,” perhaps someone like […]
12072022 – Matthew 3. 1-12 John has always intrigued me. In a strange kind of way, I always look forward to his YEARLY visit. He gets us. It is like he peers into our souls, into our very beings. He sees what others apparently do not, and if they do, they say nothing. I am […]
12282022 – The Holy Innocents, Martyrs There are always TOUGH CALLS. Tough DECISIONS to be made. Someone HAS TO MAKE those TOUGH calls. Split-second decisions are sometimes called for… Sometimes, decisions CANNOT WAIT. Looking at all of his OPTIONS, and checking all of his various SOURCES, he made the BEST DECISION he could possibly make, […]
11302022 – Matthew 24. 36-44 The situation was “MORE THAN DIRE.” The whole “Jesus movement” was “very SMALL” and “FRAGILE.” The followers of Jesus feared being “OUTED.” Being OUTED – many times meant being IMPRISONED or DEAD. When the gospel of Matthew was written there may have been A FEW THOUSAND people who “IDENTIFIED” as […]