For the record: even disciples get afraid sometimes. Christians living around the world today are afraid for their safety and for their security. It is ok to be afraid. Sometimes there are good reasons to be afraid. Not all places are safe. Not all people are our friends. Some people will hate us…and will even […]
The name Jesus means “He who saves” or “Yahweh saves” or “He will save.” Jesus is our Savior. And in our Gospel text for this afternoon, Jesus clearly reaches out his hand and quite literally saves Peter. It is an amazing text. It is not about Peter. It is not about walking on water… It […]
You can never be quite sure – what life is going to throw at ya’ next. It can be challenging sometimes. One of our former older members used to say, “It’s a great life, if you don’t weaken!” You can never tell… Nor can you adequately be prepared… You have to be strong. Confidence helps. […]
Yikes! Where is it all going? Middle of August already…almost time for the children to go back to school. Where did the summer go? It was a nice one! A little wet, a little warmth with some breaks in between…nothing too excessive. It’s like May morphed into June which flew into July and now into […]
It started out in his hometown of Nazareth. He taught in his home Synagogue. People could not believe what they were hearing. Some liked his gracious words, while others wondered why he spoke as an authority figure. Some did not like his interpretation of the scripture at all. While others merely wanted to hurl him […]
A parable is really a riddle – to be figured out. It is also a story with a hidden meaning…that people are to seek out. Or, you can just accept it as it is, at face value. Some say, it is an earthly story with a heavenly meaning. Regardless it was a teaching tool a […]
Long before the church had pulpits and its baptisteries, it had kitchens and dinner tables. As a matter of fact one of the very first statements made about the early church, is that the disciples/apostle’s were spending too much time waiting on tables…and not enough time sharing the good news… So seven men of good […]
In sending out the twelve – Jesus makes “a whole bunch of assumptions” about the “character of his twelve students…” His premise MAY BE “a little bit shaky…” He “assumes” they will be as innocent as doves… He “assumes” they will be like vulnerable sheep… He “assumes” they will not be judgmental or hypocritical. He […]
Obviously this is Matthew’s gospel. Jesus is back in Galilee. He is not in Judea. He is on a mountain top again! Very much reminiscent of Moses on the Mountain top. In Matthew’s gospel this is the final word. The final word has meaning. It is important and significant. There is nothing that follows. This […]
Our Gospel from Matthew this morning reminds us of the central role played by women during the time of Jesus’ ministry. (But then, of course, you already knew that!) Women were present with Jesus during his life, during the darkest moments of the crucifixion and death on Good Friday, and in the first moments of […]